Brother Fire

One of the true traits of a missional community is one that reaches out to "the nations" as opposed to one that relies on attraction. What about the Taize community? Is this a missional community? Here is a link to an introductory video about Taize.

As I study for the priesthood and discern my future ministry, I can't help but wonder: will I be able to effectively harness my calling toward building a missional church in the independent sacramental movement? I feel called to build a church who's mission is first and foremost consistent with the great commission (Matthew 28: 18-20) and seeks to bring the Gospel to all the Nations; a church that puts faith in action, not one that passively waits for the masses to enter her doors. Often the term 'missional church' is described vaguely. I like the way Mark Powell describes it in this video. Can an ISM church truly be a missional church? I think so. Peace.

Everyday gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth are bullied, bashed and discriminated against in schools across the country. This Friday, April 25th is an opportunity for students to take action with a day of silence. See the video below for details. Peace.

A couple of months ago, I participated in the daunting task of counting the un-sheltered homeless here on Long Island . Every year a coalition of service-providers work together to track people who do not have housing: folks who are living "on the streets," in the woods, under bridges & over-passes, abandoned buildings, or any other location where someone could stay without being accosted. What makes this task especially difficult is that the homeless on Long Island are seemingly invisible. Long Island is an automobile driven suburb that has a lacking public transportation system. In neighboring New York City , most of the residents depend on the subway and buses to get around -- and the homeless are clearly visible as they seek shelter in the bus terminals and subway stations. However the general population on Long Island doesn't see Long Island ’s homeless from the driver's seats of their SUVs. Most of those who do not have a home live in abandoned ...

A Homily for the Third Sunday of Easter, Cycle A Gospel: Luke 24 The Easter season is an exciting time for me. Not just the Triduum, or Easter Sunday…but the whole 50-days of the season. And I think it’s because it not only honors the day of Jesus resurrection, but also the birth of the church and the whole of Christianity. The season is really about who we are as Catholics. This Gospel story of the two disciples who walk to Emmaus is a wonderful metaphor of our faith journey together – especially as Independent Catholics. Imagine what these two disciples were thinking and how they were feeling as they began their journey. They started their walk from Jerusalem on Easter Sunday. They were feeling discouraged and depressed for they had so much hope in Jesus. After all, he was to save Israel . However, they saw their Lord unjustly tried and put to death. And to make matters worse, now his body was missing! Their hopes were dashed. They were dejected and los...

I love Easter -- not just Easter day or the Triduum, but the whole season. I love the build-up during lent -- preparing for the death and resurrection of Jesus. I love praying the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. And I especially love the Sundays of Easter following. The Easter season reminds me of the birth of the church. Jesus and the apostles were such revolutionaries of their time. I love reading the Book of Acts. I love the story of Jesus walking with the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24). As you can tell...I'm absolutely in my glory as the Easter season progresses. Indeed CHRIST IS RISEN. May the Risen Lord be with us always! Peace.

5th Sunday of Lent -- Cycle A Bishop Tony recently showed me one of his favorite books titled: 99 Annoying Attributes of God: Why God is God and You’re Not (by Ray Albrektson, Gary Stanley, and Janet Kobobel Grant). Isn’t THAT the truth! The book is exactly what it sounds like it is -- a list of ways that God annoys us and it has scriptural references to prove the point. I started looking through the book and saw myself in it in so many ways. Here’s one that is so true: “God is annoying because he allows me to struggle and fail at the very things he can accomplish in the twinkling of an eye.” Indeed there are so many examples of that! And of course, it got me thinking about other ways God annoys ME. Here’s one that I came up with: “God is annoying because just when you think you know what God is going to do – God does something totally different.” Today’s Gospel is a perfect example of that. Jesus is away from Judea with the apostles – presumably preachi...