Sermons

A golden dusk looms over the wheat field in rural France. Two peasants have set aside their tools and a basket of potatoes. They stand bowed, praying an Ave Maria, and the world around them is lit up. The whole landscape is charged, enchanted by a presence of glory. This painting is called The Angelus, by J.F. Millet, 1859. Art shows us the essence of things, and in this artwork in particular, we discover the essence of Christianity. A heart open to God is open to God’s beau

He saw, he fled, he built. Three actions sum up St. Benedict’s legacy. From the very start, our parish dedicated itself to a vision exemplified by St. Benedict, and we must always return to that vision. We are here to be a counterculture. We are here to recognize the problems in our culture, to detach from them, and to pour sweat and blood in building Kingdom culture. “Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or

“Launch out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” God expects us to go farther into the water. We all have times in our Christian journey when we become complacent. We get comfortable with our faith, and would be comfortable remaining just where we are. God asks more of us. “When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Launch out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we have worked all night long but have cau

“Kindness is one of God’s many qualities; therefore, it always spreads joy, drives away the clouds, and opens up hearts like the spring sunshine which makes the earth blossom” (St. Paisius of Mount Athos). Compassion is the sign that God is in your heart. We come together as a parish not only to worship God. We are here to learn compassion. How are we loving one another? “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety nine in the wi