Having been born and raised in Colorado, one of the many things I learned while growing up was the names and locations of the fifty-eight mountain peaks that tower above fourteen thousand feet.  I also learned to have a deep reverence, respect, and caution when climbing anyone of the “fourteeners” where a person often starts out in the warm sunshine, moves into the clouds, tramps through the rain, plods through sleet, and then struggles through a snow storm in the middle of July. From our own experiences on mountains today is easy to understand why from the beginning of the human race, people … [Read more...] about Why Are You Standing Here Looking Up? (Fr. Bob reflection)

One of my favorite Peanut cartoons shows Lucy philosophizing with Charlie Brown. Lucy says, “Charlie Brown, life is like deck chairs on an ocean liner. Some people take their deck chair; face it towards the back of the ship, and think of the home they left, the past, and everything behind them. Others turn their chair to the front of the ship and anticipate what’s coming next, what new port they are going to enter that evening, and all the exciting things that are coming. Which way have you turned your chair, Charlie Brown?” Charlie Brown lets out a big sigh and says, “You know, I can never … [Read more...] about Touched by a Fiery Spirit (Fr. Bob reflection)

Long before there was radar and satellite navigation, the captain of a huge battleship was patrolling the Canadian coastline. His massive ship was moving rapidly through a thick fog. Suddenly, directly in front of him, he saw lights.  The captain got on the ship’s radio to the other party and demanded, “You must change direction by 20 degrees immediately.” The reply came back, “No, you must change your direction.”  The battleship captain yelled into the radio, “I am the captain of a 35,000 ton battleship, and we are streaming at 22 knots.  You must change direction by 20 degrees … [Read more...] about The Light of Christ (Fr. Bob reflection)

As we look beyond the potholes in our asphalt roads, the snow piled along our concrete sidewalks, the snow shovels quietly resting on our front porches, and adjust to daylight savings time, we can hope for signs of new life and new growth that come with spring. Soon grass seed will be spread between houses and sidewalks. Corn seed will be sown between barns and field fences. Flower seeds will be planted in gardens and window boxes. There is new hope that seeds planted will produce beautiful lawns, abundant crops, and colorful, fragrant flowers. I believe Jesus had a similar hope of new life … [Read more...] about Unless a Grain of Wheat (Fr. Bob reflection)

During our lives all of us experience some kind of temporary darkness.  As infants, our parents likely pulled a blanket over our heads to protect us from the wind and cold. During winter blizzards in Minnesota, it is not uncommon for neighborhoods and rural homes to be plunged into darkness for a moment, for hours, or for days at a time. As drivers, we enter a highway tunnel and darkness surrounds us until our car lights turn on.  As people who live with family and in community, we tiptoe in the darkness until the sun rises so that others can sleep.   It then should come as no surprise to … [Read more...] about Light and Life! (Fr. Bob reflection)

On the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays of Lent Catholic parishes who are preparing adults and children to be baptized at the Easter Vigil celebrate what are called the “Scrutinies.” These rites are celebrated at liturgies where the Elect, those adults and children who are preparing for Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) and the Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC) are attending.  Part of their journey to receive the Sacraments of Initiation has included the Rite of Acceptance by their sponsoring parish and the Rite of … [Read more...] about The Scrutinies (Fr. Bob reflection)