We sometimes hear this phrase in preaching and/or teaching about the Church: “The fullness of the Spirit.” For me that’s a cue to the life-changing events that set my life onto a path that I never intended. That phrase makes…
Spirit Who?
Lifestyles of the Rich and Fallen
Recently, I had an epiphany. We spend a lot of time reaching out to the poor and hungry, but who is reaching out to the rich and fallen? Didn’t Jesus say: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard…
Hearing the Shepherd’s Voice
Readings for April 21, 2013: Fourth Sunday of Easter What was the response to Jesus’ preaching, according to the New Testament? Some who heard him were impressed; others wanted to push him over a cliff (Luke 4:29). The same was…
Highlighting New Evangelizers: Catholic Underground
I don’t know how I’ve gone so long without the delight known as Catholic Underground in my life, but there you have it: even old dogs can find new podcasts. The Catholic Underground, though, isn’t just a podcast: it’s also…
On Haters and the Passion
When I first had the idea of doing a New Evangelizers blog series using Jesus and the Holy Family as examples to fight the Five Wounds of Secularization (Busyness, Consumerism/Materialism, Violence/Revenge, Individualism, and Entitlement), I thought Violence/Revenge would be the…
Do NOT Follow Your Heart
It’s the dogma of our curent culture: follow your heart. It’s such a part of who we think we are, of how we think we should make decisions, of what we strive to reach, that we’ve accepted it as capital-t True. But…
Why We Need Divine Mercy
We live in trying times. Terrorism from both jihad and abortion clinics is but one indicator that shows what a merciless and age we live in. But as evil and terror have increased, so too has the reach of God’s…
Why Doesn’t the Holy Spirit Have a Face?
I don’t know if you were like me growing up, but I had a hard time wrapping my mind around the nature of the Holy Spirit. I knew He was important because He’s mentioned with the Father and the Son. …
Liturgy: What’s the Point?
“So, about that liturgy of yours…” Sometimes the transcendence of a Eucharistic liturgy can get a little blurry. A bad microphone that makes the lector’s proclamation of Scripture unintelligible. The thermostat in the sanctuary turned up so high you can…
The Reward of the Cross
And whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:27, KJV) Imagine you are applying for a job. You’ve gotten through the interview process and are now negotiating your contract. Everything you’ve heard…