A dear friend calls — her marriage is on the brink of despair. Another texts, “Please pray; I am losing my home.” Some of us feel the pain of estranged relatives or friends. Somehow, the holidays just magnify the pain. Shattered…
Putting the pieces back together
Trust Jesus Enough to Wait for Him
Doing the right thing in the modern world is full of challenges and difficulties: we struggle with our own limitations while being bombarded with troubles from all quarters. A globalized world with inputs from all quarters is sometimes too much…
Rejoice in Hope
Readings for the 3rd Sunday of Advent, December 11, 2016 Moses’ mission had taken him quite a distance . . . from the splendor of Pharaoh’s palace, to a stroll through the Red Sea, to wrestling with Israel’s stubbornness for…
Early Gifts
Are you excited? Did you get it? What, you say? Your gift, your early Christmas gift from Jesus. It was right there, in his conversation this morning, the third day of Advent: “Turning to the disciples in private he said,…
Images of Christ in Those Around Us…and in Ourselves
I was looking through old photographs the other day. Yes, actual have-them-developed-and-hold-them-in-your-hand type of photographs. Many of the people in those images are no longer part of my life. Some have died. Some have moved on, and some I simply…
Advent: The Real Meaning of Christmas Lights
Readings for the 1st Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2016 As fall moves onward towards winter we have places to go, things to do, people to meet. Yet as we go about our business, we notice the days are getting…
Helpfulness
Help others and you will be helped. Proverbs 11: 25b We can’t help others without helping ourselves. Helping others gives us a sense of purpose. It makes us feel useful, maybe even important. Reaching out to others generates good will….
Trust in God’s Mercy
The Jubilee Year of Mercy has ended, and the Holy Doors have closed. I have to admit, I’m just a little relieved. I’m not exactly sure what I expected or hoped for, but it wasn’t what I got. This has…
The Daily Examen
The examen is an examination of conscience done once or twice a day. There are five steps to it: 1. Give thanks to God our Lord for the benefits I have received 2. Ask for grace to know my sins…
Prayer is the Answer
We urge you brother’s admonish the idle, cheer the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient with all. See that no one returns to evil for evil, rather, always seek what is good both for each other and for all. Rejoice…