Not long after the Nativity we celebrate the Epiphany, the twelfth day of Christmas. People who celebrate this holiday recognize it as the arrival of the Magi at the birth of Jesus after a long arduous journey to seek the…
The Vocabulary of Change
G.P.S.
But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly and he will be given it. But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts, is like a…
The 10 Commandments in the Modern World Part 5 – Do Not Kill
When it comes to this commandments, most people think of themselves as scot free regarding the fifth. “I never killed anyone!” And to be sure most of us (I pray) are not murderers. But this commandment goes beyond the mere…
A Hacked Epiphany
What was my welcome to 2017? My website was hacked the day before December 31! It was down for 5 days as I struggled with technology and an uninvited interloper who took ownership of my site. In the process of…
The Gifts of the Magi
This year, as the feast of Epiphany approaches, I have been reflecting on how the journey of the Magi and our own personal journeys are much alike. Of course, we are not all kings, or learned scholars, but we are…
God’s Significant Extremes
Well, the holidays are just barely off the radar and it’s probably time for you to answer this question: How comfortable were you in the middle of the milieu of family, gifts, celebrations? Did you get a lot of “stuff”…
Catholic Pop Culture
As I have for the last two years I shall recall any good things from the popular culture that are harmonious or helpful to Catholic culture. There were many things past year and many things coming up in 2016 that…
The Deeper Meaning of Christmas
Readings for Christmas, Dec. 25, 2016 In the days of Caesar Augustus, an era of peace was established in the Mediterranean world after centuries of strife. But this peace was forged by the proud ambition of emperors and the edge…
Welcoming a Child
Then [Jesus] took a child and had him stand in front of them. He put his arms around him and said to them, “Whoever welcomes in my name one of these children, welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not…
Advent Vocabulary
One of the gifts of our Church is the way that our rituals are folded into the rhythm of life. So it is with the season of Advent. In our Liturgical practice, Advent is really the doorstep to Christmas and…