How can we share our faith with others when the people around us just aren’t interested in “religious” things? You know–the situations where the mere mention of “Church” or “Jesus” would bring the conversation to a standstill. It’s called pre-evangelization….
Deaf Hear and Mute Speak: The Meaning of Miracles
Readings September 6 the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time There is little doubt, even in the minds of agnostic historians, that Jesus really worked miracles. After all, the disturbance caused by some of his mighty works was in part responsible…
Will all men be saved?
I recently was in a discussion with a dear friend regarding whether I believed all men could go to Heaven. My short answer to his inquiry was “Yes.” But I think this is something that requires a great deal of…
Tonic Soup and Spiritual Warfare
In the classic struggle between good and evil, the Genesis account of Joseph and his brothers shows how God’s power far surpasses Satan’s. Joseph’s jealous brothers sold him into slavery, yet that’s how their tribe was able to survive the…
Is Tradition a Four Letter Word?
Readings for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 30 One of the great battle cries of the Protestant Reformation was “sola scriptura!” Many thought that the Catholic Church had cluttered up the simple Christian faith by adding all sorts of practices,…
Psalm 1
Editor’s note: Today we welcome Barbara Hosbach to the New Evangelizer’s blogging team! Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people, who do not follow the example of sinners or join those who have no use for God….
How Sad are You?
Fear, anger, frustration, failure, longing, wishing, helplessness, hopelessness, loneliness, rage, indignation, and embarrassment: in my spiritual walk, I have genuinely experienced each of these emotions more than a time or two. Sometimes God and I are not on speaking terms….
Find and Tell
Evangelization is simple, yet mysterious. Today’s Gospel (John 1:45-51) for the Feast of Saint Bartholomew (aka Nathanael) captures this dynamic in a nutshell. Often we can overthink evangelization. Don’t understand the word. Worry about “doing it wrong” or perceptions about…
Faithfulness
Readings for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 23 Belief in God is rather widespread, at least in America. Various surveys show that over 90% of Americans “believe in God.” But belief and faith are not quite the same…
Cottage Life and the Spiritual Life
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your…