Jesus calls us to delighted following – Mark 10:46-52

OT Yr B, Wk 30; Farley Hall (ND).  Welcoming the students back after Fall Break.

Like most of you, I was away this past week; and like many of you, I did a lot of driving.  As my friend and I drove up through West Virginia and Ohio yesterday, we passed a convoy of station wagons with Indiana license plates, being driven by college-student-aged-looking drivers.  We were pretty sure: this is the CSC Appalachia service trip making its way home.  It was a nice reminder of where we were going, and who we were going there with.  We were on the way, and so were they.

God fills us to overflowing – Mark 10:17-27, Heb 4:12-13

OT Yr B, Week 28; Farley Hall (ND).  My first attempt at a dialogue homily at a Sunday Mass.

I’m sure you all know that something big happened on campus this weekend.  Something that attracting big media attention, filled the social networks.  I’m talking of course, about the announcement that the optimistic lifestyle brand “Life is Good” has teamed up with Notre Dame to offer the brand’s first collegiate licensed apparel.  That’s right, as of next week, you can may 11 varieties of men’s and women’s shirts featuring the words “Life is Good” and your choice of interlocking ND monogram, or cute leprechaun.

Jesus brings us back to God’s creative love – Mark 10:2-12

OT Yr B, Wk 27; Duncan Hall (Notre Dame)

“Go back to the beginning… how did this all start?”  When something that was meant to be wonderful starts to taste bitter, that can be just the question to ask.  What was it that so exited me and led me to begin this course of study, to play on this team, to take this job… to marry this person?  How can I bring that initial fervor to life again, in the more mature way that’s needed to deal with our more seasoned problems or our creeping ennui?