I gave a brief lesson in ancient Church history in my homily a couple weeks ago, and I feel compelled to repeat some of that here, since today we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome. The way All Souls Day last Sunday trumped what would have been the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, this weekend, the Lateran Feast trumps what would have been the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time.

This Sunday we celebrate the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day). Because November 2nd falls on a Sunday, it trumps what would have been the 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time. Instead of reflecting on Zacchaeus, who would have been the subject of the Gospel, we’re reflecting on death and the afterlife.

I think most of us look to this Sunday’s Gospel scene with fondness. The Pharisee is proud that he fasts twice a week, pays tithes, and doesn’t sin.

What do you do when it is hard to pray? When you’re confused about something and in your head about a variety of options you could possibly take, and talking to God seems to only add to the confusion? It’s as if God is giving you just another opinion that has its pros and cons. Praying can actually be somewhat detrimental to your peace.

The return of the leper to give thanks to God is one of the first Gospel stories I can recall from my earliest days.

I read recently a study that mentioned mustard seeds have radioprotective qualities. An experiment was conducted where a bunch of different seeds were put under radiation and the mustard seed was the only seed that wasn’t deformed.

In the canon law class I teach weekly up at the seminary, we recently covered the topic of criminal law in the church.

The phrase “rock bottom” comes to mind when praying about this Gospel passage (and also reflecting on the Chicago Bears, but that’s another story).

We often use the word “consolation” in prayer. Someone in spiritual consolation feels close to God and sees evidence of the fruits of the Holy Spirit in their life.

Jesus says in the Gospel today, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” He can’t actually mean this, right?

I mentioned a couple weeks ago in my homily about how many Japanese soldiers in World War II admitted, after the war, that the guns and anti-aircraft weapons they were firing were blanks.

Our passage from the Letter to the Hebrews this weekend gives us an important principle to remember: God challenges those who are good. “My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges.”

Some people will love the readings this weekend. Some will hate them.

In my homily last Sunday I spoke about the five different ways to connect to God.

When Pope Leo decided to resume the tradition of the pope spending July and part of August in his summer villa in Castelgandolfo, in the hills outside of Rome, I think most people understood and respected it.

Dear Parishioners, Intercession is one of the themes of our reading this weekend. Abraham intercedes on behalf of Sodom to try and save...

Ah, the Gospel scene of Martha and Mary. Some love this, some hate this. We love it because we all want to be Mary. We hate it because we are all Martha.

After Jesus gives the parable of the Good Samaritan to the scholar of the law, Jesus asks the man, “Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” The lawyer responds, “The one who treated him with mercy.”

A friend recently reminded me what St. John Vianney’s “pastoral plan” was when he became the pastor of his new parish in Ars in 1818.

Pentecost is a feast that I’ve come to appreciate more and more each year. While I like all the feast days, Pentecost is now one of my favorites; one that I look forward to the most. Interiorly, I feel more excited by Pentecost than I do by Christmas.