Today’s Gospel reading concludes Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Jesus began His preaching “Repent, the Kingdom of heaven is at hand!” In the weeks since we heard that message, we have listened to Jesus tell us what is expected of His disciples—those who wish to become members of His Kingdom….

When I was preparing for marriage, I was frightened by the enormity of my decision. Plagued with “what ifs” and fear of failure, I nearly backed out of the engagement. But then I looked back on my past and realized I had never been homeless or starving, and I saw…

There’s a song I love simply called “The Summons” written by John Bell.  The second verse of this song is my favorite and the most challenging; it goes like this: “Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?  Will you care for cruel and kind and never…

Tomorrow may be Valentine’s Day, but it wasn’t a “sweet and gentle Jesus” that we saw today. Today’s gospel contains some of Jesus’ most demanding statements.  He used strong and dramatic language to exhort his disciples to a make a radical commitment to God that went far beyond the rabbinic…

If you’ve been to Rockefeller Center in NYC and visited the RCA building you may have noticed the huge murals depicting man’s progress in the mastery of nature. They show man working with the lever, hammers, mallet, chisel and the stages of industry and commerce. Amid these many pictures of…

I imagine most of us have “put away Christmas” by now. We’ve dismantled the tree and removed the fragile ornaments, tucking them away in their boxes. But once the Christmas season is over, do we put our faith away with the rest of the “Christmas decorations?” Outside the Christmas season,…

The day after a recent and unexpected surgery, my doctors told me I should walk as much as possible.  As I began my first walk, dragging my IV pole and a couple of tubes, it seemed like a drudgery that is until I rounded the corner that led to the…

In my home town, as in many small towns in the Adirondacks, there were cultural divisions. There were the Catholics, the Protestants, the Jews – the French, the Germans, the merchants and the mill workers; the lists go on.  These divisions governed the customs and behavior of some people, although we were fiercely…

The Walk, by Richard Paul Evans is a popular novel that tells of a man, named Al, who lost everything – his job, his home and the love of his life – all within a short period of time. He struggles for peace and meaning in life and decides to…

Epiphany Dinner – Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church – January 2nd, after the Noon Mass, in Seton Hall. Please bring a dish-to-pass and be ready to enjoy delicious food and good fellowship. We really hope you join us!