The 2014 Synod has come to a close and more has been made of it in the media than most synods in recent history. Going into the synod, we knew that since the topic related to all things regarding the…
Policy vs. Doctrine
The Luckiest Man in the Bible
In our all too self-centered society, the attraction of “personal drama” and “woe is me” thinking is pervasive. Every public figure and celeb has some mega-emotional story of the most recent tragedy in their lives that is all important and…
What Questions Get Answered?
I just read Holly Ordway’s conversion story, Not God’s Type: An Atheist Lays Down Her Arms and was fascinated by it. I posted a review here, but in this post I’d like to focus on what I learned in terms…
The Radical Rabbi and the Great Commandment
Readings for October 26, 2014: 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time They are at it again. In this Sunday’s gospel Jesus’ opponents enlist a lawyer to do what lawyers do best- ask a question that puts a person on the hot…
What’s Your Golden Calf?
“And when he had received them, he fashioned them by founders’ work, and made of them a molten calf. And they said: These are thy gods, O Israel, that have brought thee out of the land of Egypt.” Exodus 32:4…
How to Evangelize Like Pope St. John Paul II
Pope St. John Paul II, whose feast we celebrated this week, is the Pope of the New Evangelization. He encouraged people in the Church to break out of their mold by going out into the world to spread the Good…
Small Groups: The Best Most Dangerous Thing That Can Happen to Your Parish
I was recently invited to sit in on a small-group faith formation session at a parish in my diocese. It was everything you could hope for, truly a picture of what is best in the revival of the Catholic faith…
Our Newest Beatified Pope: Paul VI
I’ll be honest. I’m pretty sure I had no idea who Pope Paul VI was until I was in my mid-20s. I mean, I’d heard of some Catholic high schools named after him, but I went to public school so…
Render to Caesar
Readings for October 19, 2014: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Despite their flattering words, they were trying to trap him, to force him into a no win situation. Consider the circumstances. They are living under the iron boot of a…
Go to Joseph
As I knelt before the altar, the painting’s inscription grabbed my heart, “Go to Joseph.” Simple, yet profound. How many times over the years had I “gone to Joseph,” pleading with him that a request be worthy of yet another…