May Jesus, the Prince of Peace, heal this troubled world.

Luke's Gospel is often "tough"...

...but so is discipleship. Besides, we all need and want to rise to a challenge. We don't want to get soft and complacent. That is another description of misery and depression. Of course Luke 14:26 does need a bit of explanation. Is Jesus calling us to hate? What does He mean? Another way of asking the question is, "What is the cost of discipleship."

That's what this homily is all about.

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I'd say Brave New World has arrived...

...but we've had Brave New World for half a century. This is even more surreal. To any who would deny the slippery slope or scoff when Christians have warned of "playing God," then take a peek at this or this.

I can already hear the chorus of talking heads: "Anyone who would question 'scientific research' must be either a simpleminded fundamentalist, or a fascist troglodyte."

How deep is this nadir, I wonder?

I don't think Almighty God gives a rip...

...about human honors. Titles, degrees, fame and the like may be important and impressive to us, but no so much with God. On the day of judgement Jesus will not ask us where we went to school or whether or not we won the Nobel Peace Prize, or had a star on the "Hollywood Walk of Fame." But we will be asked, "What did you do for me? When I was hungry, thirsty, naked, abandoned, sick, imprisoned, etc. what did you do?" God cares about our love, or lack thereof.

Jesus tells of about humility this week. This homily is all about humility and pride and exultations and humiliations. A shout out to my brother, Fr. Jim Hudgins for the example of Emperor Franz Joseph.