Messages from Fr. Bob

It is likely that most of us, if not all of us, have traveled across country in an automobile. If we are the driver, we might take the time to study a map. We might download directions from the Internet. If we travel a lot, we might invest in a GPS app for our mobile phone. If we do end up in unfamiliar surroundings, we might stop to ask someone for help in getting us from where we are to where we want to go.   In the ancient world, it was not uncommon for travelers to take or to make different routes to the same destination. Often the roads were patrolled by military legions and used by … [Read more...] about A Dominican Blessing (Fr. Bob reflection)

With Christmas over, gift-wrap recycled, and holiday cookies nearly gone, we are given the opportunity to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. The opportunity lends itself to consider family life in the many and various ways in which we experience it.  Speaking for myself, I belong to three families—my birth family, my Dominican family, and my parish family. My birth family currently extends across five generations. My mother is a member of the Silent Generation born before 1945. The oldest of my siblings, like myself, are Baby Boomers. The youngest are members of Generation X. The … [Read more...] about A Reflection on “Family” (Fr. Bob reflection)

As Christmas Day approaches the stories surrounding the birth of Jesus as well as the nativity story itself are depicted in creche scenes, television programs, school plays, Christmas cards, sacred hymns, and popular songs. But there is much, much more to the stories of Christmas than what immediately meets our eyes and ears. In the gospel story for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Mary and Elizabeth meet and visit without the presence of any male characters other than their unborn infants. Given the rare occurrence of "women only" stories in the scriptures, it is all the more significant that … [Read more...] about Who We Are Becoming (Fr. Bob reflection)

I think all of us have watched a child scoot or crawl along the floor to reach an object that has attracted his or her attention. If it is safe, we may cheer the child on and move the object closer. If it is unsafe, we may move the child away or place the object out of reach. Every year at this time, parents with a scooting or crawling child have to decide whether or not to put a Christmas tree, with all its bright lights and ornaments, on the floor or put it up high out of reach. Whether we know it or not, every time we move toward a reach for something, we are exercising the virtue of hope. … [Read more...] about Hoping in God’s Promises (Fr. Bob reflection)

I think most of us are familiar with the phrase “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” It was first used by Aristotle in his written work Metaphysics. Down through history, it is likely that other people used the same phrase with their work. A structural engineer may use the phrase to explain how the plumbing, heating, and electricity work together to make a home. An artist may use the phrase to describe how some pieces of a landscape are used and others are left out to paint a beautiful picture. On this First Sunday of Advent, let’s look at a few of the different parts whose sum … [Read more...] about Greater Than Its Parts (Fr. Bob reflection)

Most of us remember learning about metaphors in our fifth grade English class. We learned that the use of metaphors is only meaningful when the metaphor comes from a common knowledge and the shared experiences of people. So maybe for us the metaphor Christ the King should be changed. Perhaps we should say, “Christ the President” or maybe “Christ the CEO” or perhaps from our popular culture we could say “the awesome Christ.”    We can argue that the title "king" is a political entity and an unpopular image in a few countries of the world today. Consequently, it is no longer a useful metaphor … [Read more...] about Christ Is King (Fr. Bob reflection)

In his book, The Power of Myth, Joseph Campbell writes this about our eating habits. “None of us would be here if we weren’t forever eating. What you eat is always something that just a moment before was alive. This is the sacramental mystery of food and eating, which doesn’t often come to our minds when we sit ourselves down to eat. If we say grace before meals, we thank [God] for our food. But in earlier mythologies, when people sit down to eat, they would thank the animal they were about to consume for having given of itself as a willing sacrifice.”  Throughout the gospels, we read about … [Read more...] about Being Grateful (Fr. Bob reflection)

In today’s gospel we hear Jesus responding to a question asked by a scribe. The passage does not indicate whether the scribe is a Pharisee or a Sadducee. But in the passage before this one, a Sadducee scribe asks Jesus a question about the resurrection in which the Sadducees did not believe. You know the question: “If one’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child and a brother marries the woman but they have no child and he dies, and this happens seven times, at the resurrection whose wife will the woman be?” Jesus is super quick to answer the question and goes way beyond the scribe’s … [Read more...] about What Do We Think? (Fr. Bob reflection)

To be a Dominican is to have great love and care for the dead. For 800 years, Dominicans have religiously carried out customs and practices that focus our prayers on those who have died.  No matter how long ago a Sister or Brother died, on the anniversary of their birth into new life, we remember them in prayer by name. In some congregations of Dominican women, short intercessory prayers for the members of their community who have recently died are said for eight days following their funerals.In many priories and houses of Dominican men, the De Profundis, a heartfelt prayer of sorrow for … [Read more...] about Remembering Our Loved Ones (Fr. Bob reflection)

In today’s gospel reading, two things are seen as wealth—material possessions and religious-moral identity. I call it religious-moral identity because for Jewish people, at the time of Jesus, there was no distinction between material possessions, cultural practices, and religious practices. They were combined together into one religious-moral self.  In other words, this is who I am and my wealth verifies who I am.   The passage that we heard is from the 10th Chapter of Mark and what follows the passage is Jesus' announcement that he must go up to Jerusalem to suffer and to die. He must empty … [Read more...] about What Do We Value? (Fr. Bob reflection)

I believe that the scripture readings we hear this Sunday can be used as a self-guided reflection on who we are and who we might become as human beings. In the reading from the Book of Genesis, God first creates a human being and then begins to create other creatures. God asks the human being to give each creature their name. This implies that from the start God does not intend to be the only helper for human beings. God intends for human beings to join with other creatures so that the potential of all creation might be realized. The idea that our helpers must be other creatures and not God … [Read more...] about Without Any Bias and Hesitation! (Fr. Bob reflection)

ABUNDANT THANKS to Mary Leibl, Linda Rivera, and Karen Thompson who co-directed the Church of St. Matthew Fall Festival. BOUNTIFUL THANKS to the members of the Planning Committee who planned and organized the booths.  IMMENSE THANKS to all the generous volunteers who assisted where and whenever needed.  PROFUSE THANKS to the members of the Rosary Society and the Men’s Club whose support is always reliable. PLENTIFUL THANKS to all the men and women chefs, bakers, and float makers who shared their culinary skills. AWESOME THANKS to the teens and their adult co-workers who resurrected and gave … [Read more...] about Many Words of Thanks (Fr. Bob reflection)

Today’s second reading from the letter of James describes two kinds of wisdom—heavenly wisdom from above and earthly wisdom from below. The author of the letter points out some important characteristics of heavenly wisdom.  Wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy, and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. At the same time the author criticizes certain human behaviors that sabotage heavenly wisdom and undermines human living, like wars, envy, jealousy, and selfish desires.   At the time the Letter of James was written, Jewish Christians would have … [Read more...] about Heavenly Wisdom (Fr. Bob reflection)

“Adages,” those brief phrases that express wisdom about the reality we all live with, are a part of everyone’s lives. BE PREPARED is the phrase I repeated, shared, and shouted with friends who were working on projects to earn our scout badges. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECTis the phrase that encouraged me to spend long hours with Latin books in high school. OUR HEARTS ARE RESTLESS UNTIL THEY REST IN THEE are the words that pushed me to answer a call to the priesthood at the age of thirty-one. VERITAS (TRUTH) is the word that inspires my study, prayer, ministry, and community life as a vowed member of … [Read more...] about Times They Are a Changing (Fr. Bob reflection)

In this weekend’s Gospel we hear about the Pharisees and in fact all Jews scrupulously washing their hands and asking Jesus why his disciples did not do the same. For the Pharisees there were definite and rigid rules for washing hands before every meal and between each course of a meal. First, the hands had to be shaken to remove any remnants of sand and dirt. Then hands were held with the finger tips pointing upwards. Water was poured over them running at least down to the wrist. The minimum amount of water was one quarter of a log, which is equal to about one and one half egg­shells full of … [Read more...] about The Labor of Washing Our Hands (Fr. Bob reflection)

Several years ago, when I attended an orientation for students who were beginning their doctoral studies, the director of graduate studies recommended a book written by William Bridges called Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes(Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., Reading, MA: 1980).  Because everyone at the orientation was transitioning from lives committed to God, family, work, and community to lives committed to God, family, work, community, and graduate studies, the recommendation was appropriate and certainly appreciated. One particular passage in the book caught my attention then and … [Read more...] about Transitions (Fr. Bob reflection)

In today’s Gospel, Jesus returns home and teaches in the synagogue. His neighbors and friends knew him as the son of Mary and had heard about his teachings and the miracles he had performed. They understood the truth of Jesus’ words and they acknowledged what he had done. But there were those who had never left home. They had stayed and had worked hard to gain recognition, status, power, and control in their own community and place of worship. Their response to whatever the words Jesus spoke reflects a combination of belief and disbelief. They seem to believe that what he said was of divine … [Read more...] about My Experience (Fr. Bob reflection)

Read a newspaper, watch the news on television, or listen to a talk show on your car radio and you will hear stories about young people.  Some of the stories describe pre-teens and teens who have volunteered their time, broadened their education, and responded to an emergency situation. Other stories describe pre-teens and teens who have disappeared on class trips, who are using drugs, or who have thought out plans to take their own lives or the lives of classmates and people in authority. It seems to me that whenever we hear a story about young people, be it good or be it bad, we hear only a … [Read more...] about Giving Life! (Fr. Bob reflection)

When I made profession in the Order of Preachers back in 1992, I was fortunate to have a classmate in the novitiate who was a classical guitarist and song writer. With his training in music, Marty Gleeson, OP joined with two other Dominican friars to write and perform religious songs. One of the songs Marty wrote and sang is called “DON’T PUT GOD IN A BOX.”  Here are the lyrics: Is your God a HE? Does his beard flow full and free? Does he have a big ole scepter in his hand? Does he help you win your war? Help Notre Dame run up the score? Do you swear he votes the same as you and … [Read more...] about Don’t Put God in a Box! (Fr. Bob reflection)

June 3, 2018 - Body and Blood of Christ By Ted Wolgamot In 1594, an Italian Renaissance artist named Tintoretto completed a masterpiece named “The Last Supper.” One of the many remarkable qualities of this painting is that it does not present this most memorable scene as many others have typically depicted it. It does not have a dark, hushed, awe-inspiring atmosphere with 12 apostles totally focused on Jesus amid a silent sense of wonder and amazement. Instead, what is most notable about this rendition of this famous supper scene is all the activity going on in the room: serving people … [Read more...] about The Body and Blood of Christ (reflection)

I have come to believe that the Feast of the Holy Trinity is one of the most important celebrations in our church year. In a world where we are encouraged to begin new relationships, struggle with existing relationships, warned against harmful relationships, expected to understand our relationships, and have relationships on social networks like Facebook and Twitter, we are given an opportunity to reflect and to celebrate our relationship with the three persons in one God.          During my life there were different ways that people tried to explain to me the relationship between the three … [Read more...] about The Mystery of Relationships (Fr. Bob reflection)

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)

This year Lent began on Valentine’s Day which magnifies in a very special way the shape and character of our Christian life.  The six weeks of the Lenten journey moves us by stages more deeply into the mystery of God’s love through the dying and rising of Jesus Christ. Christ’s dying and rising, what we call the “Paschal Mystery”, was given to us as an example to enter into and to make our own so that the teachings of Jesus about the power of God’s love that he preached about during his life is confirmed at the end of his life and continued on in us.  The living out of the paschal mystery in … [Read more...] about Liturgical Ministry—What Are You Called to Do? (Fr. Bob reflection)