September 2, 2023
If someone were to ask you to make a list of your gifts – of those things you are good at and enjoy – how long would it take you to write it? What would have been your answer when you were ten years old? If you grew up playing sports (and loved it), do […]
September 1, 2023
This is the will of God, your holiness: We are often told that we should be holy. We even read from time to time that God himself is holy. If we understand “holy” as being pious, prayerful, etc., we may miss the point. Holiness, in the biblical sense, means to be different. Our God is […]
August 31, 2023
“Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” Jesus’ admonition to be watchful always “for you do not know the day” does not appeal to installing more security cameras and alarm systems in your house against thieves. He wants us to be secure by refining our moral system of […]
August 30, 2023
If I had a choice, I would rather be a Thessalonian, listening to Paul with his gentle, encouraging words that invite us to “walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into his Kingdom,” than a scribe or a Pharisee being referred to by Jesus as hypocrites, beautiful on the outside but […]
August 29, 2023
Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist The First Reading recounts Saint Paul’s first journey into the world with his mission to preach the gospel to all of humanity. He was filled with the love of all who would listen to him. He was willing to let Christ lead him into whatever dangers […]
August 28, 2023
Memorial of Saint Augustine Today’s first reading could easily serve as a description of today’s saint, Augustine (354-430). Paul writes that the Thessalonians found faith not through the words of Scripture alone “but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction.” In his Confessions, the first autobiography in Western literature, Augustine […]
August 27, 2023
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time My granddaughter Molly has been afraid of police officers most of her life. As a little girl, she would get out of her car seat. Mom and Dad used the arrest tactic to get her to abide by the law. She’s seventeen, and yesterday while cruising on the beach with […]
August 26, 2023
How do we do life? At what level of consciousness do we operate or live? Do we practice what we preach or speak? Do we filter what we think or blurt it out? Matthew has put a lot to thought about that in today’s gospel reading. Do we practice religion and have a relationship with […]
August 25, 2023
Have you ever witnessed an act of deep compassion and love by someone who is not Catholic, or even Christian, or doesn’t even attend church? I have – on many occasions. It is both an inspiring and challenging experience. And sometimes, even embarrassing. I attend church regularly, pray daily, read the Scriptures, etc. And yet, […]
August 24, 2023
Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle “Come and see.” Our religious organizations create invitations through different media to learn more about their missions and encourage an interest in becoming a religious or active evangelical lay partner. But some people speak of themselves as “non-joiners”— no clubs, groups, or teams for them. However, they do belong to […]