THE ROAD CHRIST TRAVELLED
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I/I took the one less traveled by/And that has made all the difference–Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken” Life is sometimes filled with tough decisions to make. Where...
View ArticleTRUE RELIGION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BEING “RELIGIOUS”
Growing up, my mom was a very devout Catholic. By that I’m not referring to that old joke about devout Catholics going to Mass only on Christmas Eve and Easter Sunday. My mom was super-religious. My...
View ArticleWHAT’S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT GREAT FAITH?
The First Amendment to our country’s Constitution says that: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of...
View ArticleHOW I GOT TO SEE THE FACE OF JESUS
We often treat Christ as if he were car insurance. How? Whenever we get into a wreck or fender-bender, we are grateful to have it in our life. Without it paying our debt, we’d be much poorer. Our life...
View ArticleWHAT THE POPE TAUGHT US ABOUT LIVING OUR FAITH
Among Catholics and non-Catholics alike, millions are enamored by Pope Francis. But beyond his rock star status, he has done much to help people rediscover the power of the Gospel. So what have you...
View ArticleWHAT JOB TEACHES ABOUT FAITH AND LIVING THE PERFECT LIFE
One of my favorite books of the Bible is Job. I love its honesty in how it treats faith and challenges the idea of the “perfect life”. Job was a man of great faith. Blameless and upright in the eyes of...
View ArticleHOW SERVING OTHERS HEAL PEOPLE’S SOULS
Each Thursday morning, I lead a healing service at St. John’s By-the-Sea Episcopal on Oahu, Hawaii. But if you attended one, the name might confuse you. In fact one attendee had no idea to call it...
View ArticleHOW OUR SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS KEEPS THE KINGDOM OF GOD FROM BECOMING A REALITY
Driving up Kamehameha Highway towards the four-way intersection at Kaneohe Bay Drive, you’ll likely see a man holding a cardboard sign: “Hungry. Need money for food.” If you see him, maybe you will...
View ArticleIMAGINE ALL (GOD’S) PEOPLE LIVING FOR TODAY
Imagine a world where the things that divide us no longer existed. No wars between countries, no obsession with wealth and possessions, no religion. That is a vision of the world John Lennon paints in...
View ArticleWHEN GOD MET EXTREME POVERTY
About 10 years ago, I faced a financial crisis. I had purchased a fixer-upper, my first major purchase as an adult. At the time, home renovation shows were the rage. Watching them, I became convinced...
View ArticleDEALING WITH THE AFTERMATH OF GREAT TRAGEDY
Sometimes things happen in life when plans get disrupted and you must address the change head-on. Today I planned on speaking about the saints in our lives. My message was supposed reemphasize a theme...
View ArticleSERVING WITH HUMILITY: HONORING KAMEHAMEHA IV AND EMMA
In 1862, the United States was in turmoil. The Civil War had already begun. Halfway around the world, King Kamehameha IV and Emma established the Church of Hawaii. We now call it the Episcopal Diocese...
View ArticleIt’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
For over two thousand years, people have predicted the end of the world. And each time, they were wrong. Here are some examples from history: 2nd century AD: One Christian sect predicted it would...
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IS YOUR FAITH FEELING EMPTY? CONNECT IT WITH FAITHFUL ACTION
To those who have gone through great loss, what can one say? What words of comfort can we offer? Words that help heal? Words that show we care? Consider, then, what you might say to the victims and...
View ArticleYOU BROOD OF VIPERS! WHAT JOHN THE BAPTIST TEACHES US ABOUT A VIBRANT FAITH
If a priest called you a “brood of vipers” at your baptism, would you have still gone through with it? December 16 marks my three year anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood. I cherish the many...
View ArticleHOW PARENTHOOD HELPED ME TO RELATE BETTER WITH THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
I never understood the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) until I became an expectant adoptive parent. The time it took to adopt our son B from China felt like a two-year pregnancy. Before we even met, we...
View ArticleWHAT IF GOD WAS ONE OF US?
On a starry night 2000 years ago, God did something miraculous: a child was born. But this was no ordinary child. God himself became one of us. Now let me emphasize what I’ve just said. This was the...
View ArticleWHAT IF WE WERE ONE WITH GOD?
I can’t imagine not being a dad. It is as a famous athlete once said: When you have kids you do grow up. I have just started realizing it now—it changes the world, having children. As a parent, I can...
View ArticleOUR SUFFERING IS REAL. BUT SO IS GOD.
In Isaiah 62:1-5, good news comes from God’s own lips. “I will not be silent,” he shouts to his people. “I will not rest. I will vindicate you. You will be a crown of beauty in my hands.” These are...
View ArticleBEING SPIRIT-LED ALONG UNCOMFORTABLE PATHS
What does it mean to be led by the Spirit? For Jesus, it meant allowing God to lead him, no matter how uncomfortable he felt. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned to familiar waters. Nazareth...
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