Here is my reflection for the 2nd Sunday of Easter:
Category Archive: preaching
Mar
04
Abraham’s Faith
Today’s first reading is one of my favorites. I know someone is thinking…”FAVORITES? God asks Abraham to kill his only son–why in the world would that be your favorite reading?” Well it is. And here’s why. First of all it’s a dramatic story where God seemingly asks Abraham to do something unthinkable. And the question …
Dec
29
A Unitarian on Faith Formation
Since the Unitarians are a creedless faith, The Rev. Peter C. Boullata took up the charge of hoping that they haven’t “institutionalized narcissism. He talks about the challenge to do faith formation in their denomination. I was both excited and troubled that they have some of the same problems that we Catholics do at times …
Dec
19
An Old Man’s Advent Dream
Deacon Bill Ditewig, one of my heroes, wrote possibly the most beautiful advent reflection I’ve read to date. Here’s a snip: Right now we have many Catholics who don’t even like to reach out and take someone else’s hand at the greeting of peace before communion. Those folks are really not going to like my …
Oct
17
Reflection for 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Caesar’s Imprint and God’s Imprint
Often I see two kinds of people on the UB campus getting in people’s faces: The first are: Radical Fundamentalists: Yelling at people things like “Have you taken Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?” The Second group are: Angry Atheists. They tell things like: “How in the world can you believe in the big lie? …
Oct
09
Could God Be All We Need?
Today’s Gospel tells the story of a King who invites people to a wedding for his son. But nobody comes. So he sends servants to invite them again. Not only do people not come this time, but some kill the servants. Then a final effort is made to have this party and they invite anyone …
Sep
12
Sunday Readings Were Perfect for 9-11
If I do say so myself…
Aug
14
Tear Down This Wall
My colleague, Julianne Wallace, reminded me that yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the building of the Berlin Wall. When I was in college the wall fell and it was a huge surprise. Nobody expected the border to open and people flooded to the scene entering back and forth without any issue. My Physics professor …
Aug
06
Can You Walk on Water?
Today’s gospel is the incredible story of Peter beginning to walk on water only to become afraid at the first gust of wind and begin to sink until Jesus catches him (and presumably rolls his eyes). There’s a little bit of Peter in each one of us. Fr. James Keenan, SJ, a great author and …
May
22
You Will Do Greater Works Than These
Sunday’s gospel has Jesus imploring his disciples to believe that Jesus and the Father are one. Not an easy idea to grasp in the first place. Then he goes on to tell them that they will do greater works than these… Well the question I have is what would Jesus consider greater works? And perhaps …
About the Blogger
Mike Hayes is an author, commentator, Campus Minister and Spiritual Director. He founded the award winning BustedHalo.com in 2001 and wrote the book Googling God with Paulist Press in 2007. Mike is currently a Campus Minister at The University at Buffalo where he serves on the staff of St Joseph University Church. He is available for speaking engagements, retreats and personal spiritual direction.
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