Homily for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) — Lectionary Readings This is what we were made for: we were made to be given away, so we must lose our life to find it. Love & Worship: Homily for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) by Teaching & Preaching: Deacon… What is worship? What kind of worship does God ask of us? And how do we offer God worship in a way pleasing to him…podcasters.spotify.com

Sacraments are visible signs of invisible grace. Through the Sacraments of the Church, God uses natural signs to communicate His supernatural grace to us. For example, Baptism uses the sign of water. …

A few years ago I took up painting as a hobby. I don’t know about you, but when I find a hobby I really enjoy, I tend to go a little overboard in acquiring all the associated paraphernalia. I started out with a small set of student grade watercolors my…

Homily for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) — Lectionary Readings Just like Solomon, we ask God today for the wisdom to use these temporary things rightly; to use the things that pass in such a way as to allow us to hold fast to those things that will never pass away, those things that will endure for eternity…

In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul admits that “we do not know how to pray as we ought” (Rom 8:26b). Yet elsewhere the Apostle instructs us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:17). Reflecting on Romans 8:26 in his commentary for the 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Dr…

I was recently asked by the Diocese of Charlotte Office of the Permanent Diaconate to record a series of three short videos about deacons to feature on the updated diocesan website. The idea was to present a short overview of deacons and diaconal ministry to the general public, as well as for those who may be interested in discerning a vocation. The videos have recently gone live on the Diocesan YouTube channel and I’m happy to share them here.

An interview with Greg & Jennifer Willits — Greg and Jennifer Willits are the founders of the Rosary Army apostolate, and veterans of the Catholic podcasting world. I recently had the pleasure of being a guest on their show, “Adventures in Imperfect Living.” We had a great conversation that about my new book, The Devout Life: A Modern…

Homily for the 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A) — Lectionary Readings …of all the things we might be tempted to worship instead of God, our Lord knows that the easiest thing to make a false idol of is ourselves. Love of God & Neighbor by Teaching & Preaching: Deacon Matt's homilies & podcasts Every Christian should be familiar with the two great commandments. "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your…podcasters.spotify.com

What happens when people mistake a deacon for a priest — Readers of this blog seem to appreciate when I relate encounters that happen when I’m out and about in clerical attire. Not all deacons are permitted by their bishop to dress as clergy (though deacons are clergy), often with the rationale that people may confuse them with priests. This has…