The Lukan Jump

In today's Gospel, our Lord multiplies five loaves and feeds thousands of people. But, it seems this miracle passes into obscurity pretty quickly in John 6. Here are some thoughts on why that might be.

We are actually living in the end times! Here's why that's a good thing and nobody needs to panic.

The saving and healing mission of Jesus Christ continues in the Church! How do we get in on it?

Taylor Swift and the Pittsburgh Pirates don't really share their lives with their followers, but Jesus Christ does! Are we willing to do what it takes on our end?

After years of hearing about the decline in the Church in America, the tide seems to be turning. We owe a debt of gratitude to those who played the part of Joseph of Arimathea during the dark years, and we have to look forward to the future of our Church!

Obedience to the word of God makes simple fishermen win debates with the high priest and his council. It can give us the same boldness!

There comes a point where the reasonable thing to do is to believe — actually, the most important things in life depend on faith!

One theme of the Gospel of John is the quest for where the Lord stays. Where is He now?

Life is full of disappointments, but the Church's liturgy offers us hope!

St John tells us that "No one has ever seen God. The only-begotten Son... has made Him known" (1:18). Do we realize how earth shattering this is?

Christ is risen, and our Gospel reading seems unconnected to the Feast at first glance. Fr. Luke takes a crack at explaining the connection in his Paschal homily, as preached at St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church in Avella, PA.

Fr Luke's first homily on Great and Holy Saturday, having just baptized a new member of the Church!

Is the Cross enough of a sign for us to believe in Christ? Fr Luke's homily for Great and Holy Friday.

The Son of God humbled Himself for our sake. Will we humble ourselves to receive His love?

This Holy Week, what am I willing to lose for the sake of gaining Christ?

Fr. Luke's Palm Sunday homily, as preached at St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church in Avella, PA.

A recent magazine article announced the impending death of our Church. Here are my thoughts in response.

Christ is from the Father; we are made by the Father... do we think about how strange it is that He became our Brother?

On the Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt, let's turn our thoughts to our need for the grace of God and the power of the Blood of Jesus Christ!

The Cross is an unavoidable part of Christian life. But, sometimes it's not that; sometimes we just get in God's way!

We need grace to be able to hear and respond to the Word of God!

God called Abram to begin an entirely new phase of salvation history at the age of 75. Would we be ready to do the same?

How often do we try to build our own little Tower of Babel — an exercise in futility?

Fr. Luke talks Shayne Smith, Sheetz runs, and claims he's taking more of the matins canon than we actually took last night; does that resemble how much we actually take up our cross?

In Christ, we recognize Death as the enemy, and yet there's something relatively insignificant to physical death...

God knows our thoughts tend to evil, and yet He shows us mercy!

Noah was 600 years old when the Flood came. So what?

Jesus Christ left us seven sacraments, but it seems like maybe we've forgotten how to use two of them. Hopefully this will help!

What does it mean that "the sons of God" married "the daughters of earth?" What does it mean for me? Is the Old Testament okay with polygamy? Am I doing something similar? Please forgive the poor audio quality; I didn't have my usual equipment.

Wherein Fr. Luke comments on Bruce Springsteen, our pious and God-fearing ancestors in the Faith, the Second Vatican Council, and the fact that God's plan includes us, here and now.

I read a great article about Scandinavian outdoor culture and failed to apply it. But hey, I got this homily on Romans out of my goof-up.

Are our good deeds done out of love for God and our neighbor, or are they just brand promotion?

Jesus Christ submits to His own law. Why does this matter?

A saying from the Desert Fathers relates rather well to the Parable of the Prodigal Son

A homily on Christian hope, which is different from optimism, pessimism, and a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

On the Sunday after Theophany, I reflected on the true signs of the Kingdom of God.

When we make excuses for not living a Christian life, are we in fact excusing ourselves from a good time?

We can overcomplicate discerning God's will. Hopefully this homily will help simplify things.

Christians are called to be more than just good people. But what exactly are we called to? I took a swing at explaining it.

St. Paul tells us that we are the place where God dwells. Are we living accordingly?

Do we practice our faith, with faith? Or do we live it out the same way we "read and understand the terms and conditions" of a EULA?

My homily from a few weeks ago on the feast of Bl. Theodore Romzha, martyred bishop of Mukachevo.

In which I use the Black Knight from Monty Python and the Holy Grail as an illustration of humanity under the grip of sin. You're welcome?

My first homily as administrator of St. Mary's in Weirton and St. John's in Avella. This was recorded when I preached in Weirton.

St. Paul tells us in the Second Letter to the Corinthians that the day of salvation is now. So here's some encouragement to take our spiritual lives seriously today!

The same Holy Spirit who anointed Jesus Christ now dwells in the Church. Are we ready for what that means?

On the feast of the Conception of St. John the Baptist, one thing we can do is examine if we really believe that God can use us to help bring about the salvation of the world.

Being a serious Christian means that we'll be rejected by the world. But the world is a dumpster fire, so is that really a bad thing? This was my homily for the Sunday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, preached at St. Pius X Byzantine Catholic Church in the Carrick neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The Gospel reading was Mark 8:34-9:1.

Thoughts on being concerned for the people we're responsible for, as well as for ourselves.

Mark 6:7 says Jesus Christ sent out His Apostles on mission two by two. That means someone got paired with Judas. That might have been awkward a few years later...