Sunday Sept 1st - 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Sunday after Game #2: Aug 28th: The Rest Return

Many of you may know by now that before I became a priest, I was an actor and performer. And one of the things I hated the most, as an actor especially, was to be having my picture taken. I always made sure that they weren't taking a picture of me, but a picture of the character "Kurt Wagner". I wasn't very humble about my work and in the end I went through all manner of hubris to make sure nobody actually met or saw "me". "They wouldn't understand." "I was too special." "I was just going to have to lower myself to be what they expected of me..." So, no. Not very humble at all.

One of the first things I had to learn when I entered seminary was how to be myself all the time. I was very good at playing roles, but I know you don't want some one who acts like a priest only for an hour every Sunday up here talking to you. I'm sure you would much rather have someone who is a priest. Playing these roles in our lives is something we all have experienced I think.

In today's gospel, we see that Jesus has no problem being himself being himself, even in public, even when he is under great scrutiny. He watches the guests and gives them a lesson about their own hubris as they all scramble for the best seats that will make them look the most important. He suggests, through his parable, to try not to look important, but to simply be oneself - to leave it to those around you to judge because surely if you are important, they will let you know. That humility, at all times, He says if the difference between the bewildered embarrassment of the reminder that you may not be the guest of honor that day, and the pleasant surprise of discovering that you are!

And so who does Jesus count as possible guests of honor at these banquets that everyone in the Bible was holding? Not just the Pharisees and other distinguished people, but the crippled, the blind, and the poor - the lowest echelons of their society. He tells us that everybody is worthy and furthermore that those who care for and protect these most humble people will recieve a still greater reward for the humility they themselves show. Jesus presents to us the opportunity for an endless circle of compassion - ever repeating and open to everyone.

Now, I know I'm over the one story per homily limit by doing this, but examples of Christ-like humily can be found in our daily lives - even when we're not looking for them.

This week, policemen came looking for a student at the school where I work. They told me that this student was wanted for murder of all things and they had come to take him away. I happen to know this student quite well and so I immediately told these men that there must be some mistake - that they either had the wrong person or it was some kind of paperwork problem. Because surely this student hadn't committed such a crime. In my panic, I even suggested to this student that he request asylum from the church until the mistake could be cleared away. (A bit like an overly proud parent suggesting that their child never ever misbehaved I'm afraid. None of us are perfect...)

However, instead of taking the easy way out that I had suggested or shouting "This is unfair! I won't go with them!" The student said, quite calmly to me and to his peers, "I am innocent. I know this. I will go with them and show them." And he left with the policemen.

This, my friends, is true humility like that that Our Savior showed on his walk to Calvary. It is here for us everyday to be called to be as humble and brave as this young student, for therein lies our greatest reward.

Thank you.

--Fr. Kurt

Cute Little Monster.... Or Early Signs of my Vocation?

This is the only childhood photo of myself that I know of where I am not performing:


It is in a church of course, as that is where my family spent most of their time when I wasn't rehearsing or performing. We prayed the rosary at least once a day. In fact, I carried that rosary with me everywhere until I was in my early twenties.

--Fr. Kurt

A New WagnerWagon?

An old friend called my first blue Volkswagon the "WagnerWagon" and it was supposed to be a joke. Almost 20 years later though I still had the car and it still had the name. I sold it last year though. It was for a stupid reason, but I should be happy I think.

Here is Christine, namer of the WagnerWagon on a trip we took upstate to the Catskills. Notice she doesn't want to look at it. Or at me. This is because she didn't believe it would make it back out of those woods. For a little while, I thought she might have been right, but the W.W. prevailed against the elements.

I came here from Italy without a car and didn't expect to need one, but with a regular commute to the university that was going to change. So I went shopping. I had a BMW once and so I wanted something red and fast and … non-clerical. Except, there was this just sitting on the lot. It was clearly meant to be my car.

I guess I am meant to own funny looking blue Volkswagons. Who am I to argue with God?

--Fr Kurt

Sunday August 19th – Ordinary Time: "A House Divided, but Please Don't Complain"

{The Sunday before Game #1 on August 21st}

Luke 12:49-53
"I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."


Today's Gospel is one of those I think where people read and just say, "I give up. I don't get the Bible!"

This is a short passage with a lot going on in it that, when read literally is seriously confusing, is it not? First Jesus sounds like some kind of religious planetary arsonist and then there's this weird sort of family math that doesn't exactly work does it? It's one of those times you're tempted to toss it aside and say "well, this is for religious scholars or something because it is certainly not for me!"

What is Luke trying to convey when he tells us of this announcement of the Savior to his disciples? That it's okay if you think math is hard because Jesus couldn't do it either? And what's he on about with this fire and baptism? And more so – since when does Our Savior talk of division of people rather than uniting them? What is Luke trying to tell us?

Most often I hear this gospel interpreted as the fact that Jesus knows that even though he has proclaimed God's Kingdom to us, He still knows that this world, this societies' future is to fall away from the sacrifice He made for us and to become again a fallen world of sin: this world we have now where families are estranged by television, and drugs, and distraction. And that Jesus is literally so anguished by this knowledge he wishes to set the world on fire and so too be engulfed in the flames.

Wow. Dramatic. But, I guess the guy really loved us a lot.

But I have been having another idea. The idea is that perhaps it is no mistake that we have a second reading today in which Paul addresses the Hebrews and tells them maybe not to complain so much. Because certainly that's something we can relate to. Everyone likes to complain.

And when we put the ideas from these two readings together, what's happening? Well, we have modern society don't we? But we also have the reminder that you may have troubles, you may feel alone, you may feel different, and you probably have plenty of very good reasons to complain, but wait! Stop and think about Jesus who bore all of these ills and didn't. And of course in the Gospel have a very good example of the kinds of things that Jesus said when he was upset by the way he saw things going and these certainly weren't complaints. As strange as it sounds to our ears, his is a call to action.

This week in the university where I teach, a new class will arrive for their first year of college. And if they are anything like the last year's class they will completely take over the house. Within minutes the staff kitchen will be their favorite hang out, they'll know where to find all the stuff they're not supposed to find, and they'll own the place. For exactly one week. Then the second year class who owned the place last year will return and within that tiny society of students rather than complaining and a house divided perhaps this Gospel and this reading won't play out; that instead these students meeting for the first time will see opportunities not for division and complaints, but to use the example Jesus gives us: A call to action.

Because in the end it is in doing the right thing that makes us holy and brings use closer to God.

Thank you.



--Fr. Kurt

August 15th - Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary

Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary. It is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic Church and my first time as celebrant for a Solemnity at this church so it is a very meaningful day for me.

When I think about the experiences Mary must have had as the mother of Our Savior I simply envy the incredible depth of her faith in her son. Imagine that you've given birth to a wonderful lovely healthy baby boy; all the hopes and dreams you have for him. And she and her loving husband raise this child – such a beautiful image we have of the Holy Family and especially of motherhood.

But remember too, that this was no ordinary child and that his life was not an ordinary life. And so where there were so many hopes and dreams, she also endured the sight of her son as he, harassed and humiliated, carried his cross on his way to Calvary simply because he was different. And so we know that Mary was an extraordinary woman of unbelievable strength and for this reason, she holds a special place both in our hearts and in Heaven.

I don't think though, that you have to be Mary or Jesus or particularly holy to take this story into your own lives. The feeling of being different, whether you look really really different or simply have different ideas than the people around you is not confined to Jesus. Nor is the feeling a mother must have when she experiences some unexpected tragedy or turn in her child's life that leads her to say, "This isn't what I expected" specific to Mary. That's why this day and Mary's reward resonates so strongly for us I think. We can understand her experience and through her, grow closer to her Son.

By sharing in her Son's triumph over death, anxiety, darkness, and pain – Mary shows us our future. She is with God and so too shall we be.

Thank you.

--Fr. Kurt

I am teaching university classes again this year!

I didn't expect this, but the university I taught at last year has asked me back to teach again. So I will be teaching classes there part time in addition to my duties at the parish. I'm very excited as I enjoyed teaching quite a bit last year.

Here are my course descriptions for both the fall and the spring semesters:

1st Year Classes

World Literature and Cultures
This course looks at various cultures both historical and current by surveying their writings. Though the reading assignments will be given as English translations, there will be times in class where they are read and discussed in their original language so that we might gain a deeper understanding of the text. There will be no examinations in this course, but expect frequent short essays on what we have covered.


World History 101
It is impossible, of course, to cover the entirety of the world's history in a single semester. For this reason this class focuses on specific figures and events throughout history that were the catalysts of change. As much as possible these historical events can be related back to current events so expect readings to come from both the textbook and recent news items. There will be no examinations in this course, but expect frequent short essays on what we have covered.


2nd Year Classes

Comparative Religion
This class will not be a traditional religions 101 survey class. Instead we will focus on the impact religion in general has had on society and culture throughout history with a particular interest on current events. Our textbooks will be the newspapers, the popular media, and the holy books themselves. The class will involve no exams, but be prepared to write regular short essays.


Utopian Societies in Literature
There has been a long tradition in society of punishing those who speak out against those in power. Thus there has been an equally long tradition of finding ways around those punishments. One of the best loved and most fascinating has been the literary creation of imaginary peaceful and perfect "utopias" in order to demonstrate the folly of the current standing government. These utopian visions still exist today in the form of "science fiction" and continue to serve the same purpose. This class will read a variety of utopian stories from the past to the present (as well as watch some current movies and television shows). There will be no examinations, but be prepared to write regular short essays on what you have read and seen.


I've just realized that I'm going to need my own car...

-Fr. Kurt