Father Chris Looby

  When I was preparing for this week, I came across an old quote attributed to comedian George Carlin.  As many know, Carlin was often critical of religion. The quote goes something like this: "Tell people there is an invisible man in the sky who created the universe and they'll believe you. Tell them the paint is wet and they'll have to touch it to be sure." Carlin's point, of course, was that people can be surprisingly willing to believe certain things while being skeptical about others.  He was questioning religion and faith and asking, "How can people believe in something they cannot see?" But whether or not you agree with Carlin, he touches on something interesting about human nature. We do struggle with believing what we cannot see. We want proof. We want something we can touch. Something we can measure. Something we can experience. And maybe the beautiful thing is this: God understands that about us. God knows we are physical creatures. We learn t...

There’s an old song from the band Three Dog that begins with the line: “One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do.” I remember hearing that song years ago and thinking it was a strange idea.  Usually we think of “number one” as something positive. Number one means first place. Number one means victory. Number one means being at the top. But the song makes a different point. There is something difficult about being alone. And if we're honest, most of us know that's true. At one time or another, we've all experienced loneliness. Some people come home to an empty house. Some have lost a spouse. Some have children or grandchildren who live far away. Some are surrounded by people and still feel alone. There is something deep within us that longs for connection, friendship, family, and love. And that brings us to Trinity Sunday. Every year on this Sunday people expect priests to explain one of the greatest mysteries of our faith: one God in three Persons.  Over the cent...

A few days ago I came across a story in The New York Times marking the twentieth anniversary of one of television’s most famous on-air mistakes. A man named Guy Goma had gone to the BBC in London for a job interview. He thought he was interviewing for an I.T. position. But through a mix-up, someone thought he was a technology expert who had been invited to appear on live television. Before he knew it, he was sitting in a television studio with cameras pointed at him and the interview had already started. Can you imagine that feeling? You're in the wrong room. The cameras are rolling. Millions of people could be watching. And you suddenly realize: I am not supposed to be here. I think most of us would have gotten up and run for the nearest exit. But later he said that in that moment something inside him seemed to say: Just relax. He remembered his mother's voice telling him to stay calm. And somehow, even though he was caught completely off guard, he carried on. I think most o...

  When I was growing up, one of my favorite movies was Back to the Future. Maybe some of you remember it. A teenager named Marty McFly accidentally travels back in time… and discovers that things people do in the past can affect people far into the future. A conversation… a decision… even one small action can change everything years later. And every time I hear today’s Gospel, I think about that movie. Because in today’s Gospel, Jesus is praying. But He’s not just praying for the apostles standing in front of Him. In a mysterious and beautiful way… He’s praying for us. Think about that for a moment. Before this church existed… before our country existed… before any of us were born… Jesus had us in His heart. And today, especially, He has these children in His heart as they receive their First Holy Communion. That’s really what makes this Gospel so beautiful. We are listening to Jesus speak to His Father just before His Passion and death. And what does He do in those final mo...

  When I was a kid, I’ll admit it—I was a bit of a daydreamer. Especially when I had chores to do.  I’d be staring off into space, lost in my own world, when I was supposed to be raking the yard or cleaning the garage.  And my dad, noticing me not exactly pulling my weight, would say—often with a shake of his head— “Christopher, get your head out of the clouds and get to work!” I think of that line every time I hear today’s reading from Acts. Jesus has just ascended into heaven. And there stand the apostles—mouths open, eyes fixed on the sky, completely transfixed.  And what happens?  Two angels show up and basically say, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?”   In other words: “Guys, get your heads out of the clouds and get to work!” The Ascension is not about Jesus leaving us. It’s about Him entrusting us with His mission.  He ascends so that we might rise to the occasion. He entrusts His Gospel to human hands—and now those...

  Happy Mothers Day to all moms especially my mom, Barbara! I came across a story this week written by a mother about her 6-year-old daughter who was being bullied at school. Some other kids told her, “We don’t like you.” And instead of getting upset… or trying to argue back… she responded in a way that honestly caught her mom completely off guard. She said, very calmly, “That’s okay. My family thinks I’m kind and wonderful… and I know who I am.” Six years old… and already that grounded. She didn’t need their approval. She didn’t need to fight back. She didn’t fall apart. Because she already knew something deep down: she was loved… and that love told her who she was. And that’s really at the heart of what Jesus is talking about in the Gospel today. He says to his disciples, “I will not leave you orphans.” In other words: You are not alone. You are not forgotten. You are not without love. And then He promises something extraordinary—He says the Father will send “another Advocate...