October 27, 2023
When I read Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans today (7:18-25a), what comes to mind is that famous idiom Jesus spoke in the Garden of Gethsemane. As his three companions could not stay awake with him, Jesus said: the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). Who among us has not had […]
October 26, 2023
Friction, often considered detrimental in relationships, may be beneficial for the common good. Issues get aired, sorted out, and resolved. Rubbing two sticks together causes friction causing heat, causing ember to begin warmth and comfort. Fire pits are all the rage these days. Warmth, comfort, and a metaphysical experience of cleansing and rebirth are before […]
October 25, 2023
“You know better!” How often does a child or young adult hear that simple three-word declarative sentence? Perhaps when a particular path or behavior they have chosen turns out to be ‘not so good.’ When Mom or Dad or a teacher or other caregiver speaks with them, it is not a punishment or attempt to […]
October 24, 2023
Saint Anthony Mary Claret founded a religious order with the mission of immediate service to distribute catechetical works. Many of us know the magazine US Catholic as one of their popular publications and media services. Saint Anthony and his religious congregation continue to use organizational gifts to improve lives and share the good news of […]
October 23, 2023
The parable in today’s Gospel is not at all puzzling. Jesus tells the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, life does not consist of possessions.” Indeed, as Our Lord concludes, it is foolish to “store up treasure for [oneself] and not be rich in what matters to […]
October 22, 2023
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Our daughters were born six years apart. As little girls, they played well together. When the oldest entered middle school, their relationship changed, and frequent bickering was heard – the oldest was loud and emotional, and the youngest was quiet and sneaky. When they would come to us united, we […]
October 21, 2023
I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man, will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. (Luke 12:8-9) What does it look like to deny Jesus before men? We can think of the explicit case of being […]
October 20, 2023
Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples, “Beware of the leaven — that is, the hypocrisy — of the Pharisees….” We know well that the Pharisees generally were no great fans of Jesus. Here, Jesus accuses them of hypocrisy — a seemingly strange accusation. The Pharisees attracted a large following because they were the […]
October 19, 2023
A martyr is a person who chooses to suffer or die rather than renounce their faith in God – this is called “red martyrdom.” Martyrs offer their suffering and life, not because they want to suffer and die but because by choosing to do so, they offer themselves in a similar manner as Christ, our […]
October 18, 2023
Feast of Saint Luke, Evangelist Today, we celebrate the feast of Saint Luke, a Gentile Convert and a companion of Saint Paul on his missionary journeys. He wrote the Gospel that bears his name and the Acts of the Apostles. We believe Jesus was the Son of God and a human person. In the past, […]