Saint Clement Shrine Podcast

It is appropriate that we begin the New Year with a reading from the Book of Numbers. Numbers is the second to last book in the Pentateuch. The book begins with a census of all the names of anyone over twenty years old who were living in the desert after God delivered them from Egypt.... The post What does His Blessings mean? appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Once I was on vacation, waiting in the parking lot for Fr. Tom to get back with lunch. While I was standing there, I watched a large barrel-chested man walking his Chihuahua. The size variance between the two looked funny, but I didn’t say anything. He came over to me and said, “How was the fishing.”... The post Walk the walk appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

The post Gospel-Homily for Christmas Day (2017) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

The philosophers believed that God was only interested in very big and important matters: God had more important matters to worry about then to fuss over humans. He had to fix the stars and balance the cosmos making sure heavenly bodies do not bang into each other. They called God, “The God of the universe.”... The post Ask Him for His Name appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

The night before Hurricane Sandy, I had the 8:00 pm Mass. Later, I went to the hospital to visit three patients. When I was done, I was famished. I planned to go to the supermarket on the way home and buy a few tomatoes to make a sauce for spaghetti: delicious carbs. I picked out the tomatoes... The post Don’t get caught holding tomatoes appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

I am now fifty-eight years old and have spent my life praying with, reading, studying, preaching, and teaching the Bible. I have taken classes on Scripture in Rome, Princeton, Harvard University, Boston College, and have studied under some of the most renowned scholars in both Old and New Testament. I can honestly say that I... The post What advantage is having the Word of God if it is not cherished appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

“Stay awake, for you do not want the Son of Man to come and find you asleep.” Why would Jesus say this a week before He and his disciples went to the garden of Gethsemane to pray?  Because it was exactly what the disciples didn’t do when they were asked to stay awake in the... The post Struggles are good! appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

The sand flee is smaller than a fruit fly, but they have very sharp teeth. I was fly-fishing one summer evening, and the sand flees came out to torment me. They had no mercy and were all over me.  I only had two options: (1) leave and miss out on the best fishing of the... The post There are a lot of things that frighten us in life appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

I was with dad one afternoon watching Phil Mickelson on TV. He was about to make a putt. If the ball goes in the hole, he will win the tournament. If it does not, he will tie and will have to play a very talented player in extra rounds. Phil walks behind the ball and... The post We have a great Boss! appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

“My paper is done. Do you want it?”  I asked my professor.  He said, “The paper does not have to be handed in until the end of the semester, but I can take it now.”  Take a guess what I am going to do the night before the paper is actually due?  I am going... The post The word for perfect is the same as the word for finish appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

In the ancient world, grandpa would tell his grandchildren the story of creation. It goes something like this. The universe is a big bubble. Outside the bubble is water. One day, for whatever reason, the water god decided to pull the cork and let in all the water inside the universe. The universe filled up... The post God not only lets us rest but He is a good buffer from others appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

I was at home and Mom told me that she was pulled over by the police. I asked her, “What happened?” She told me she was driving down Route One, missed her exit, and did a U-turn.  “Apparently, I wasn’t supposed to,” she said.  A police officer pulled her over and asked her, “Do you... The post God never stops listening to our hearts appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Here is Matthew, minding his business; a Christian comes over to him and asks, “If we are the enemy of the state and it is illegal to be a Christian, do we have to pay taxes?” A good question, indeed.  Matthew recalls the time when Jesus said to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and... The post How do we make a difference in this world? appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

When I came to St. Clement years ago, my task was to fix up the place. It was badly in need of repairs.  Before I could do anything—change a light bulb, redo a bathroom, take out a wall to enlarge a room—I had to get permission from my superior. He would ask the members of... The post When you tell God you trust Him you give Him freedom to do as He wills appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Moses and God talk Ex. 32:7-14 God says to Moses your people are complaining and rebelling. Your people that you brought out of Egypt are rebelling and made a golden calf and worshiped it.  I am going to end it all.  Let’s you and I leave these people and start a new nation. Now that... The post God’s Heart appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

God gave the Israelites a vineyard of choice grapes to harvest. To appreciate such a gift, we need to consult an expert. Once I had the opportunity to tour one of the vineyards in Napa Valley. The guide told us that to make world-class wine, you need the perfect conditions: The exact amount of rainfall,... The post Don’t take your eye off the big picture appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Cecil B. DeMille directed the epic film, Ben Hur.  He told the lead actor, Charlton Heston, that he was planning to have a chariot race in the film, “I want you to be in that race. I do not want you to have a stand-in.”  Heston said, “If you want me to ride, I will... The post God is generous to those who never quit appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

The parable of the unmerciful servant ends tragically. Let’s give it a happy ending. The master wanted to throw the servant in prison: the servant pleaded and begged the master to give him more time, “I will pay back the debt.” Out of compassion, the master released him and forgave the debt. The servant, free... The post Transform the world – His way appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

The post Gospel-Homily for Twenty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time (2017) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

The post Gospel-Homily for Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time (2017) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.