John’s Gospel begins: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. It is perhaps one of the most profound openings to any story ever written. When I teach this Gospel in…
Jesus: The Word of God
Chosen, Schmozen
Sometimes I think we hear bible and religious terms to the tune of: “That again, what’s the big deal?” Terms like: holy, sanctified, sacred, ancient, established, marked, set apart, covenant, chosen. As we rush through life and religion, we sometimes make…
The Wheat and the Tares
Readings for July 20, 2014: 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time At one time or another, we’ve all dreamed of a perfect world. Imagine a company where everyone is productive, a government full of honest politicians, a church where all are…
Purity Is Not a Dirty Word
My recent pilgrimage to Rome and Medjugorje was filled with many trials and graces. Our band of 36, experienced long flight delays, luggage loss, nearly 24-hour flight delay, extreme heat and money loss. However, I am sure it was just…
How Can I Forgive When I Can’t Forget?
While many people believe forgetting an injury is part of forgiveness, Fr. Justin Waltz of St. Leo’s Church in Minot suggested just the opposite. In fact, he stated that forgetting is not even possible. “The only type of forgetting I…
The God Particles: Part Three
“The Spirit comes to enlighten the mind first of the one who receives him, and then, through him, the minds of others as well. As light strikes the eyes of a man who comes out of darkness into the sunshine…
G.P.S. (God Powered Salvation)
But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find Him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29 KJV) God wants to fulfill His promises to us, to…
How Does Liturgy Fit with the New Evangelization?
What exactly is the relationship between the Church’s liturgy and the New Evangelization? From one perspective, you might feel as if liturgy is an obstacle, something that’s a barrier to more effective proclamation–just think back to the level of concern surrounding a…
The Two Messages of the Parable of the Sower and the Seed
Readings for July 13, 2014: 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time I’ve always loved gardening. Seeds I’ve planted include carrot, cucumber, and of course, zucchini. In each case, I’ve planted seeds in neat rows, expecting nearly all of them to sprout…
Passing Time, Using Time
Summer is a good time to think about time. Some summer days, time seems to fly by and before we know it, the day is done. On others, time seems to crawl as we struggle to finish a project, or…