Our Gospel passage for this Sunday is from Mathew Chapter 18. It is a beautiful and rich chapter, known as the Church Order Discourse. It happens to be the only other place, in all the Gospels, where Jesus uses the Greek word “church” (ekklesia), after Matthew 16 (“You are Peter, and on this rock I [...]
On Catholic Morality, and Voting
Among events local and national, with the news cycles and social media going full bore, you may have heard, through some medium or other, various apocalyptic portents to the effect that the fate of the world relies upon your vote in the November U.S. elections. Yes. Here we are: morality and voting. I give this [...]
4th of July, 2020
The following reflection, although not delivered verbatim, formed the basis of my homily on the 4th of July Weekend. Fr. Timothy Naples J+MJ It’s a 4th of July Weekend. As we celebrate our annual Independence Day as a nation, let us look to our Lord, and the saints of the Church as the best guides [...]
Black Catholics and White Catholics and the Sexual Revolution
The following are "snapshots" of Black and White Catholicism, thinking about the Sexual Revolution in the United States First snapshot. Recent events led me to look for statistics about “fatherlessness” in black families. This data is not specific to Catholics, but it was the first set of statistics I started with in relation to the [...]
Would I assert that black lives matter?
As a Catholic Pastor, I have thought it would be good to make my own statement about the protests and calls for justice in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. I have started this post with the question, "would I assert that black lives matter?" Firstly, I do not really support the organization [...]
Good Friday: about Cana and Calvary
This is a Good Friday “sermon.” Because of the pandemic, I cannot deliver it in person, or any of its condensed elements. So I will post the full thing here for reflection. I will begin by speaking about the wedding at Cana. Why on earth am I starting with the wedding at Cana? In short, [...]
Q & A about TV Mass, Sacraments, and More
"Is there any benefit to watching Mass on TV? Does it need to be 'live'? What is a spiritual communion?"
In Celebration of the Annunciation: A Living Sacrifice
Because we are all "baptismal priests," we therefore have the ability, and the duty, to turn our own very lives into a sacrifice.
Those By Whom God Rebuilt the House of David: In Honor of Saint Joseph, Righteous Man of Faith
Blessed Solemnity of Saint Joseph! For lack of time to complete any other posts, yet wanting to get a move on the pieces I have in mind for UbiPetrus.com, and to honor St. Joseph, I am posting some extended notes I made on themes in the Acts of the Apostles. Let us begin in the Acts chapter 15. At this juncture of [...]
Using Our Untrustworthy Money (Luke 16:1-13)
Today is Ash Wednesday. It’s a little late to say happy new year, but I’ll say so anyway, because this is my first blog post this year. There have been lots of “firsts” lately. Anyhow, if you’re reading this, you know it's also a first for a new blog site. Please say a quick Ave [...]
