The Catholic spiritual tradition has long included the practice of the examination of conscience. This exercise has traditionally included two questions: What did I do wrong and how have I failed? In the Gospel, Jesus tells a parable that turns these two questions upside down (Matthew 25:14-30). The parable describes three servants whose master entrusted […]
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On this Stewardship Sunday we are invited to renew our commitment to being good stewards of what has been entrusted to us by God. The stewardship way of life acknowledges that all that we have and all that we are belongs to God, it is all a gift. As disciples of Jesus, we are called […]
Early November marks the autumn midway point between summer and winter. The life of summer gradually yields to the death of winter. For the Church, this is the month that especially calls to mind the transitory nature of life which eventually gives way to death. For Christians, what seems to be the bleak finality of […]
Most of us have people in our lives that we just do not like. There are people that annoy us, offend us, frighten us, upset us, make us uncomfortable. People that we do not want around us for one reason or the other. People with whom we spend as little time as possible. If you […]
It’s a definite setup. The religious authorities ask a seemingly simple question to Jesus, inquiring if it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar (Matthew 22:15-21). Jesus could be in trouble either way he answers the question. If he says paying taxes to Caesar is wrong, he is in trouble with the government. If he […]
A lamp without a light bulb cannot function. A flashlight without batteries is useless. It is not possible to swim in a swimming pool without water. A dinner without food is not a dinner. A movie theatre with no movies would go out of business. There are many things in life that one without the […]
A fine chef uses the best ingredients in order to create a delicious dish. A good house builder takes time with the plans, hiring the workers and selecting quality materials in order to build a strong and beautiful house. A successful athlete is disciplined and practices regularly knowing that this is the key to a […]
Which is better, to say no to something and change your mind, or to say yes to something and then not do it? In the Gospel, Jesus tells a story about a father who tells his son to go work in the vineyard. The son says yes he will go but he never went. The […]
It seems there is no end these days to the horrific images of terror and violence broadcast to our TV sets, streaming on the internet and filling the pages of newspapers and magazines. As random killings and brutal executions become more the rule than the exception how do we react? Certainly there are the justified reasons […]
Mark, age 24, was shot in the chest by gunmen who had the wrong address. After 40 agonizing days in the hospital, he suddenly developed an infection and his family was called to his bedside. They spent the night holding Mark’s hand, caressing his forehead and praying the rosary. Very early in the morning he […]