Readings for February 22, 2015: First Sunday of Lent In today’s fuzzy moral landscape, it is quite unpopular to even speak of sin, never mind condemn it. It’s even more politically incorrect to talk about God taking stern action against…
Noah’s Ark and the Baptismal Flood
Lessons from the Leper
Readings for February 15, 2015: Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Many Catholics are confused about suffering. Some writers extol its surpassing value. But does that mean that we should look for suffering? Or, if suffering should come our way, that…
Preach It!
Readings for February 8, 2015: Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time The Bible is not just for Churches and Synagogues. Portions of it are read as literature, even in secular university classrooms. Invariably, when you look at the syllabus of such…
Authority over Demons
Readings for February 1, 2015: Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time I’ve read many term papers in my day. Most of them are no more than a patchwork of quotes. That’s because college students are smart enough to know that they…
Detachment from the World
Readings for January 25, 2015: Third Sunday of Ordinary Time Peter and Andrew were businessmen. So were their neighbors, James and John. They tried to wring a living out of the Sea of Galilee, and it probably took nearly all…
Called and Consecrated
Readings for January 18, 2015: Second Sunday of Ordinary Time When I was growing up, we were urged to pray for vocations. That meant to pray for more priests and nuns. After all, they were the ones especially called by…
The Baptism of the Lord
Readings for January 11, 2015: The Baptism of the Lord At first glance, the scene makes little sense. John’s strident call to repentance provokes an overwhelming response. People of all shapes and sizes flock to him in the wilderness. They…
Epiphany Reflections
Readings for January 4, 2015: The Epiphany of the Lord Up until now, all has been quite humble. A donkey-ride to a dusty town south of Jerusalem. Hotel rooms all booked up. Giving birth in a stable and laying the…
Reflections on Mary as Mother of God
Readings for January 1, 2015: The Octave Day of Christmas, Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God The mother of the Messiah has been called many things in the last 2000 years – the Virgin Mary, Our…
Celebrating the Holy Family
Readings for December 28, 2014: The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph The Passion of the Christ was the most intense movie I’ve ever seen. But there was a moment of comic relief, a flashback to a young Jesus…