Homilies / Reflections

Matthew 5:14-15 reminds us: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify Abba God in heaven.” In a spirit of humble obedience, some of our homilists have agreed to offer to the larger Christian community the fruit of their reflections, by posting them here. May these words and thoughts be seeds for further contemplation!

A Selection of Homilies Preached at the

Catholic Church of the Beatitudes, 2011-

Dennis APEL

Although we are in this world, we declare in faith that we are not of this world.; (2016-1120)
(2 Samuel 5:1-3, Col 1:12-20, Luke 23:35-43)

Gary BECKER

All about “talents and using them.” (2011-1112)
(Proverbs 31:10-13,19-20,30-31; 1 Thess 5:1-6; Matthew 25:14-30)
Pondering the Annunciation: “Was Mary not the first priest, the first minister of the sacrament of the real presence?” (2011-1217)
(2 Samuel 7:1-5,8b-12,14a,16; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38)
Did Jesus teach with real authority? (2012-0128)
(Deuteronomy 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 7:32-35; Mark 1:21-28)
The time of fulfillment is now. (2012-0225)
(Genesis 9:8-15; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:12-15)
God forgives and forgives and forgives – and we must do likewise. (2013-0615)
(Genesis 9:8-15; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:12-15)

Mary BECKER

What it means to be chosen (2012-0714)
(Amos 7:12-15; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 6:7-13)

The Holy Family, and learning to let go (2012-1229)
(1 Samuel 1:20-22,24-28; 1 John 3:1-2,21-24; Luke 2:41-52)

Lessons in Love (2013-0202)
(Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19; 1 Cor 12:31-13:13; Luke 4:21-30)

Look -- I am doing something new! (2013-0316)
(Isaiah 43:16–21; Philippians 3:8–14; John 8:1–11)

God protects us from nothing, but sustains us in everything (2018-0630)
(Wisdom 1:1,4,6-7;13-15;2:23; Corinthians II 3:1-3,6a,4:1-2,5-6; Mark 5:21-43)

We Shall Pass Through the Waters (2020-0711)
(Isaiah 55:6-13; Psalm/Isaiah 43:1-3a,4-7,1d;Romans 8:19-25; Matt 12:22-37)

Harriet BURKE

"Often when I hear the word Epiphany, rather than think of the Magi, I think of an “Aha!” moment . . ." (2012-0108)
(Isaiah 60:1-6; Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12)
Intolerance in scripture -- and in real life (2012-0929)
(Num. 11:25-29; James 5:1-6; Mark 9:28-43, 45, 47, 48)
On widows and "unlikely prophets" (2012-1110)
(1 Kings 17:10-16; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44)
What does it mean to you to be married? (2013-0413)
(Acts 5:27-32, 40-41; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19)
How do we "raise the dead"? (2013-0609)
(1 Kings 17:17-24; Galatians 1:11-19; Luke 7:11-17)
Moses, the widow, and "praying always" (2013-1019)
(Exodus 17:8-13, 2 Timothy 3:14 -4:2, Luke 28:1-8)
What do Sts. Peter and Paul and the "keys" represent today? (2014-0629)
(Acts 12: 1-11; 2 Tim 4:6-8; Matt 16:13-19)
Parables are profound paradoxes that are intended to turn the mind upside down. (2014-0726)
(1 Kings 3:5, 7-12; Rom. 8; 28-30; Matt. 13:44-52)
At our retreat day many spoke stunningly about being generative and prophetic and how we bear fruit through our inclusivity and welcoming. (2014-1004)
(Isaiah 5:1-7; Phil. 4:6-9; Matt. 21: 33-43)
Does a call really happen just one time, as recounted in the Jonah story, or that of Simon, Andrew, James and John? My experience tell me no. (2015-0124)
(Jonah 3:1-5, 10; 1 Cor. 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20)

Kathleen DEWEY

A reflection on forgiveness at a time of transition (2010-06)
(focusing on Luke 7: 36-50)
The "great procession to Jerusalem" and "the narrow door" (2010-07)
(Is 66:18-21; Heb 12:5-7, 11-13; and Luke 13:22-30)
On the Feast of the Majesty of Christ, "we are cared for by a gentle shepherd." (2011-1006)
(Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17; 1 Cor 15:20-26, 28; Matthew 25:31-46)
Refections on creation stories and on marriage-divorce (2012-1007)
(Gen 2:18-25; Hebrews 2:9-12; Mark 10:2-16)
Hope springs eternal in Advent. (2012-1202)
(Jer 33:14-16; 1 Thes 3:12 – 4:2; Lk 21:25-28, 34-36)
The cross as the symbol of Christ's love and Christ's suffering (2013-0324)
(Jer 33:14-16; 1 Thes 3:12 – 4:2; Lk 21:25-28, 34-36)
"And so Mary set out" - new light on the Visitation (2015-1219)
(Luke 1:39-45)

Suzanne DUNN

At Christmas, "Awakening the fire of love" (2011-1225)
(John 1: 1-18; and Luke 2:1-14)
Reflections on "Priesthood Sunday"and blind Bartimaeus (2012-1028)
(Jer 31:7-9; Heb 5:1-6 and Mark 10:46-52)
Imagine on Good Samaritan Sunday a "Year Without War" (2013-0714)
(Deut. 30:10-14, Col. 1:15-20, and Lk. 10:25-37)
Celebration of Beatitudes Community's Fifth Anniversary (2013-0915)
(Numbers 21:4b-9; Phil. 2:6-11; Jn 3:13-17)
Reflections on hard-pan soil and our sometimes rigid attitudes (2014-0713)
(Is. 55; Ps. 65; Mt. 13:1-23)
Illness and death are part of our life cycle (2015-0830)
(Is. 55; Ps. 65; Mt. 13:1-23)
How has the new cosmology changed our way of thinking about life and death? (2015-0913)
(Is. 55; Ps. 65; Mt. 13:1-23)

Christine FAHRENBACH

In the Trinity we can imagine the Divine Dance of Creation, and Creation going on creating in a dance of relational evolution (2016-0521) (Prov. 8:22-31; Rom. 5:1-5; Jn. 16:12-15)

Anne Goodrich HECK

On the first Sunday of Advent, "we have entered into a time of waiting and watching." (2011-1126)
(Isaiah 63:16-17, 64:1-8; 1 Cor. 1: 3-9; Mark 13:33-37)
On the Solemnity of Mary, "The shepherds came as they were." (2012-0101)
(Numbers 6:22-27; Galatians 4:4-7; Lk 2: 16-21)
On the lament of Job, and Jesus cures Peter's mother-in-law and "raises her up" to ministry (2012-0204)
(Job 7: 1-4, 6-7; 1 Cor. 9: 16-19, 22-23; Mk 1: 29-39)
Our God is a God of liberation, a God of freedom! (2012-0310)
(Exodus 20: 1-17; 1 Cor: 22-25; John 2:13-25)
Let us love one another! (2012-0513)
(Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48; 1 John 4: 7-10; John 15:9-17)
On serving, not being served! (2012-1021)
(Isaiah 53:10-11; Heb. 4:14-16; Mk. 10:35-45)
On how the magi had to revise their expectations (2013-0106)
(Isaiah 60:1-6; Eph. 3:2-3, 5-6; Mt. 2:1-12)
Re-valuing our prodigal daughters and sons (2013-0310)
(Joshua 5:9, 10-12; 2 Cor. 5:17-21; Lk 15:1-3, 11-32)
If you would save your life, you will lose it . . . That is where today's reading is heading. (2013-0623)
(Zechariah 12:10-11; Galatians 3:26-28; Luke 9:18-24)
The story of Martha and Mary teaches us how the two aspects of hospitality – preparation and presence
– go hand in hand (2013-0720) (Gen 18:1-10; Col. 1:24-28; Lk 10:38-42)
Keeping the faith over the long haul (2013-0810)
(Wisdom 18:6-9; Heb. 11:1-2, 8-19; Lk 12:32-48)
Carrying the dream forward (2013-1006)
(Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4; 2 Timothy 1:6-8; Lk 17:5-10)
Considering two temptation stories (2014-0309)
(Genesis 2:7 – 3:1-7; Romans 5: 12-19; Mt 4: 1-11)
Celebrating Mary of Magdala (2014-0823)
(Song of Songs 3:1-4; Lk 23:54-24:12; Gospel of Mary 5:1-9)
What Matthew's gospel tells us about forgiveness (2014-0914)
(Sirach 27:30 - 28:7; Romans 14:7-9; Matthew 18:21-35)
Come to the "table of plenty" when Isaiah and Matthew call (2014-1012)
(Is. 25:6-10; Phil. 4:12-14, 19-20; Mt. 22: 1-14)
Palm Sunday and the Passion reading according to Mark, interspersed with reflections (2015-0329)
(Mark 14:1 - 15:47)
Imagine how that first Pentecost must have felt! (2015-0523)
(Acts 2:1-11; 1 Cor. 12: 3-7, 12-13; John 20: 19-23)
Is it possible that God is doing something new? (2016-0313)
(Is. 43:16-21; Phil. 3:4-14; Jn. 8:1-11)
A memorial service invites a fresh look at the blessings we call the "beatitudes." (2016-0427)
(God’s Grandeur, by Gerard Manley Hopkins; Matt 5:1-12)
There are huge differences between these two "forgiveness" stories (2016-0611)
(2 Sam. 12:7-10, 13; Gal.2:16, 19-21; Luke 7:36-50)
It seems that God is always trying to draw us forward, beyond what we have previously known, in Egypt, Palestine, Rome, and America. (2016-0911)
(Ex. 32: 7-14; 1Tim. 1:12-17; Lk 15:1-10)
Witnessing God’s love in the flesh. (2017-0422)
(Acts 2:42-47; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31 )
How did we lose Mary Magdala's voice for so many centuries? (2017-0726)
(Lk 2:36-38; Jn 20:11-18)
Cultivating a Practice of Forgiveness (2017-0916)
(Sirach 27:30 - 28:7; Romans 14:7-9; Matthew 18:21-35 )
God’s justice calls us to tend the sheep. (2017-1124)
(Ezek 34:11-12, 15-17; Col 1:15-20; Mt. 25:31-46)
Lamentation asks the big unanswerable questions. (2018-0217)
(Gen.7:11-18; 8:13, 18-19; 9:9-10, 12-14; 1Pt.:3:18-22; Mk.1:12-15)
Today’s readings have a dark tone. (2019-1207)
(Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13; Mt. 3:1-12)

Thomas F. HECK

On actions, not just words, in John's Gospel. (2014-0329)
(John 9:1-41)
On “Doubting Thomas” and Forgiveness (2014-0427)
(John 20:19-31)
Reflections on the Idea of Trinity (2014-0615)
(John 3:16-18)
Today's visionary readings savored and savored again (2014-0706)
(Zech 9:9-10; Rom 8:9. 11-13; Mt. 11:25-30)
Are We Rebirthing God? (2014-0831)
(Jer 20:7-9; Rom 12:1-2; Matt 16:21-27)
The Gospel and the Ethics of Reciprocity (2014-1026)
(Ex. 22:20-26; 1 Thes 1:5c-10; Mt 22:34-40)
With these two images — powerful warrior and gentle shepherd — Second Isaiah, says Brueggemann, lets God be all / in all / for all. (2014-1206)
(Is 40:1-5, 9-11; 2 Pet 3:8-14; Mk 1:1-8)
Vocations and Incarnations. (2015-0117)
(1 Sm 3:3B-10, 19; 1 Cor 6:13C-15A, 17-20; Jn 1:35-42)
On Nicodemus and Trust (2015-0316)
(Eph 2:4-10, John 3:14-21)
"Show me!" The risen Christ offered more than just words! (2015-0419)
(Acts 3:13-15, 17-19; 1 John 2:1-5a; Luke 24:35-48)
The serious side of the "Corpus Christi" feast, and the unfortunately-named attack submarine
(Ex. 24:3-8, Heb 9:11-15, and Mk 14:12-16, 22-26) (2015-0606)
Is it a privilege to prophesy? Think again!
(Numbers 11:25-29, James 5:1-6, and Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48) (2015-0927)
The Rich Man and Lazarus: A Gospel Story Retold (2016-0925)
(Luke 16:19-31)
When will we ever learn? Apocalyptic events are in the air! (2017-1008)
(Isaiah 5:1-7; Ps 80:9,12,13-14,15-16,19-20; Phil 4:6-9; Mat 21:33-43)
Whose lament is Job’s lament? His? Mine? Or ours? (2018-0203)
(Job 7:1-4, 6-7; 1 Cor 9:1-9, 16-19, 22-23; Mk 1:29-39)