Spiritual Directions for the Journey
Posted in Reflections from Fellow Wanderers, Reflections from the Pulpit - Wandering with Deacon Mike on Apr 28th, 2012
Charlie is a man I only met once. His story, and the story of a small group that came to be know as Charlie’s Angels will be a part of the homily this weekend. This is a tribute from Les Horne, one of those who befriended Charlie, given at Charlie’s memorial service. Its such a [...]
Posted in Reflections from the Pulpit - Wandering with Deacon Mike on Apr 25th, 2012
This is a second homily preparation week in a row. I have been invited to speak at the other St. Patrick’s in Toronto (you can never have too many St. Pat about the Friends of Dismas ministry. This weekend we have the scene of Jesus telling us as his disciples that he is the good [...]
Posted in Reflections from the Pulpit - Wandering with Deacon Mike on Apr 21st, 2012
(Click here for Printer Friendly Copy) It all comes back to the Upper Room. In today’s gospel from Luke, just as in last weeks from John, we are in the room where Jesus gathered his closest disciples on that Holy Thursday night. It is shortly after the death of our Lord and those who were [...]
Posted in Big Questions, Reflections from Fellow Wanderers on Apr 20th, 2012
Luke gospel for this coming weekend wraps up with these words: Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said to them… “You are witnesses of these things.” Here is a partial list of things we have witnessed: Jesus humbling himself to share in our humanity. He was born, lived a full [...]
Posted in Big Questions, Reflections from Fellow Wanderers on Apr 19th, 2012
The disciples are locked in the Upper Room. In the readings below Jesus appears and greets his friends with the calming words, “peace be with you.” In Luke’s gospel this weekend, Jesus asks us a question: “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? John 20:19-20 On the evening of that [...]
Posted in Big Questions, Parents and Kids on Apr 9th, 2012
On this Easter Sunday I am reflecting on life, death and new life. It has been a busy and hectic week. In the church business this is the big one. It begins with Holy Thursday, Good Friday, which included a powerful evening celebration of the Way of the Cross with the Good Thief at the [...]
Posted in Reflections from the Pulpit - Wandering with Deacon Mike, Stuff for Wandering on Feb 11th, 2012
Looking up to God by reaching down is the title I have chosen for today’s homily. Many people pray by looking up to heaven. There is nothing wrong with this. However, we often fail to realize that our God is all around us and to see him we may well have to reach down with [...]
Posted in Big Questions, Reflections from Fellow Wanderers, Reflections from the Pulpit - Wandering with Deacon Mike, This Sunday on Feb 8th, 2012
In yesterday’s “This Sunday” post we find two interpretations of this week’s reading from two priests, Fr. Robert Barron and Fr. Scott Lewis, whom I highlight each week. Fr. Robert Barron could be considered a Catholic apologist (for more (and I mean more) on Apologetics click here.). In this homily, Becoming Fit for Worship, Fr. [...]
Posted in Reflections from the Pulpit - Wandering with Deacon Mike, Stuff for Wandering on Dec 31st, 2011
Transform: 1. To change markedly the appearance or form of; 2. To change the nature, function, or condition of; convert. Ponder: 1. Think about (something) carefully, esp. before deciding or concluding. This weekend we continue our reflections on the transformation of the peasant girl from Nazareth named Mary. A few weeks ago we remembered the [...]
Posted in Big Questions, Reflections from the Pulpit - Wandering with Deacon Mike on Dec 31st, 2011
After the shepherds departed having told them what the angels had said we are told that “Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” Mary “pondered” (to think about (something) carefully, esp. before deciding or concluding.) – What did she really know? Here is a song called: Mary Did you know? I [...]
Posted in Reflections from the Pulpit - Wandering with Deacon Mike on Dec 17th, 2011
One of the truly amazing gifts of being Catholic is the rich theology and teachings we have been given through the years about the Blessed Virgin Mary. Through the ages we have come to understand the role of Mary through the teachings of the Church, by numerous masterpieces of art and in a special way [...]
Posted in Presentations from the Road on Oct 24th, 2011
I would like to thank the teachers from the Catholic Schools in St. Patrick’s parish for the opportunity to speak to them today at their Faith Day retreat. The Theme of the Day was: Walking in the Light of Christ. This is the first run through of a presentation I am working on that came [...]
Posted in Reflections from Fellow Wanderers on Oct 19th, 2011
Last night at our Friends of Dismas small faith sharing group we explored Session 2 in our series on Compassion as we looked at the Golden Rule. We reflected on Matthew 7:12 “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” [...]
Posted in Big Questions, Parents and Kids on Aug 27th, 2011
I’ll lend you for a little while A child of mine, God said For you to love the while she lives And mourn for when she’s dead It may be six or seven years, Or forty-two or three But will you, till I call her back Take care of her for me? She’ll bring her [...]
Posted in Reflections from the Pulpit - Wandering with Deacon Mike on Aug 20th, 2011
Matthew- what did you mean by these 12 words? These 12 words from this weekend’s reading may have led to the creation of more theology, more dogmatic discussion and disputes than any other passage in the New Testament. What is interesting is that this story is one of the few that is documented in all [...]
