It sure has been a hot summer so far. We’ve been hitting the triple-digit numbers on more than one occasion. Even across the world it’s been very hot too. So I guess it seems rather appropriate that in this morning’s gospel, we see Jesus turning up the heat as well. Jesus says, “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled…”

Today is Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the Church. Pentecost is a Greek word meaning fifty. So we celebrate Pentecost 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus. The readings for today so beautifully dovetail together, giving us a great view of what transpired on that first Pentecost morning…

About ten years ago, I was up early one Saturday morning trying to get an early start on preparations for a wedding shower I was hosting that afternoon. When the phone rang around 7:00 AM, I didn’t think too much of it, since my mind was already projecting ahead of what food I had to prepare. The call was from one of our daughters-in-law, Christie…

The way we view the world can either limit or expand our horizons. The crowd that surrounded Jesus in our Gospel lesson in John became angry at what they perceived as arrogance, if not blasphemy, on his part. How dare he call himself the bread of life? …

About two weeks ago, Craig and I were all set to leave on vacation. I was looking forward to seeing my sister and her husband. They have a second home on Brigantine Island, which is a beach community in southern New Jersey. As we were pulling out of our driveway, this delightful feeling washed over me. I call it the AH! Factor.