For Christians today, Jesus is present in an unseen way: through the work of the Holy Spirit, through the sacraments, and in prayer. We find out what Jesus is like through reading and hearing the Bible, especially the Gospels. This…
Remembering Jesus
Why Not Become Fire?
I had my major conversion experience the summer after high school. As a result, I was a particularly zealous Catholic (though perhaps not the wisest) during my time at college. During those years, I made it a point to attend…
Christ and the Church are One
“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts of the Apostles 9:4) This is the very strange question that Jesus asks Saul of Tarsus on the Road to Damascus. Saul was on his way to find followers of Jesus and…
What Jesus Really Looks Like
I’ve come across some interesting internet chatter about the real face of Jesus. In the Bible, it is interesting that Jesus is never explicitly physically described (except in the book of Revelation where everything is symbolic). Most of our ideas…
Easter Was Not A Pagan Holiday
For years, opponents of the faith like spread conspiracy theories about our most beloved Christian Holy Days. More commonly we find these ideas spread about Christmas. But social media has recently been circulating that Easter is actually a pagan holiday….
Identity, Sin, and Following Jesus
We are who we are, and our identities are formed out of our nature, our experience, and our choices. Sometimes those choices are wrong, and we know they are wrong, but we make them anyway: that is sin. We see…
Humble Jesus on a Donkey
Yesterday was Palm Sunday. On this day, we commemorate when Jesus enters in triumph into Jerusalem. He is greeted with loud cries of “Hosanna!” as people proclaim Him the the promised Messiah. And yet this same crowd will be calling…
Between Presumption and Despair
Human beings are funny creatures. We often find ourselves heading to one extreme or the opposite. For example, take the sins against salvation: presumption and despair. Presumption is the belief that no matter what I do, I am going to…
Preparation for Prayer
As mentioned last week, one of the three pillars of Lent is prayer. Like most of you, I am in continual need to grow in my prayer life. And far be it from me to give advice to those who…
Jesus, Living and Active Today
Jesus is a historical figure, yes, but far more than that: he is living and active today, right now, and moves in the lives of human beings around the world. No, I am not talking about people being inspired by…