Well, here we are at the halfway point of Lent. We have all been working hard on our acts of penance and of charity. Hopefully we have been able to attend some of our parish prayers, such as Stations of…
Psalms: The Prayer that Fits Any Situation
Bible vs. Science
Probably the most frequently used objection to trusting the Bible is that it is contradicted by what we know from ScienceTM yet millions of Christians, and millions of scientists find no contradictions. How can this be? When asked exactly what…
My NBA D-League Elevator Pitch
Now who is going to harm you if you are enthusiastic for what is good? But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you. Do not be afraid or terrified with fear of them, but sanctify Christ as Lord…
On the Necessity of Self-Love
I remember growing up in the 1980’s. One of the big musical hits was Whitney Houston’s, “The Greatest Love of All.” It had wonderful lyrics about believing that children are our future, overcome adversity, etc. But it wasn’t until I…
Are You a Clone?
I grew up in the shadow of my sister who was 18 months older than me. I followed her around, copying her every preference and obeying her every request. She convinced me that her likes and dislikes, friends and fashions…
God is Mercy
This Lent I gave up reading fiction and am focusing on Catholic books that have been on my to read list for many months. The first book I choose is Evangelical Catholicism, by George Weigel. I’ve read a few of…
The Man Born Blind
Readings for March 30, 2014: Fourth Sunday of Lent The Lion of Judah is no tame lion. Neither is he predictable. While walking along the streets of Jerusalem one day, Jesus sees a common enough sight in the Holy City. …
Lenten Fasting and Feasting
Some think Lent is a time for fasting. I see it as a time of feasting. I come to this conclusion based on the story of the fig tree in Luke 13. Three years without bearing fruit. What could be…
Five Steps to Helping Your Pewmates Improve Their Spiritual Fitness
If Jesus were on Facebook, he’d be the guy who sends friend requests to everybody. This creates a thorny problem, because you end up with a Church full of horrid slackers. Weak, pathetic, “spiritually flabby” as one Ash Wednesday sermon…
The Ups and Downs of Conversion
Today’s Old Testament reading cues us in on some of the emotions and dispositions that often go along with conversion. We meet Naaman. He’s got things pretty good. He’s “highly esteemed and respected by his master” and is quite successful in his professional…