The Weekly Sabbath is the heart of Jewish religious practice producing, in Abraham Heschel’s memorable phrase, “a cathedral of time.” The book of Leviticus also calls for a Sabbath year — every seven years the land should lie fallow to be given a chance to rest — and for a Year of Jubilee. When seven… Read More »

Besides sacred spaces there is a human need to create sacred times, times when we connect in a particular way to God. The Bible describes the sacred times for the Jewish people. The LORD said to Moses, “These are the festivals of the LORD which you shall celebrate at their proper time with a sacred… Read More »

St. Martha should be a particular patron for Americans. Like her we tend toward action, toward doing something. We judge ourselves and others, and others judge us, on what we have accomplished. This is true even with God — we figure we have to do something in order to get God into our life. We… Read More »

The commentator on the Olympics said that Katie Ledecky had swam over 21,000 miles in training before coming to the Olympics — she could have swam to Japan from her home! She dedicated herself completely to her goal. The parables of Jesus challenge us to have the same kind of dedication toward a life in… Read More »

The LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as one man speaks to another.  At times, I wish my prayer was like that — but it’s not. Often I have difficulty hearing what the Lord is saying to me. On a retreat a few years ago, Tony DeMello, SJ, called that encountering the… Read More »

Moses chided Aaron for participating in the creation of the Golden Calf. Aaron responded: “The people gave gold jewelry to me, and I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out.” It reminds me of politicians who, confronted with some egregious activity, respond “Mistakes were made.” What Aaron and politicians — and all… Read More »

Somethings you only appreciate looking back. At the time you were miserable but later you saw that it did you good … things like your mother making you eat spinach; walking to school in three feet of snow, up hill, both ways; learning algebra. (Even looking back, I still am not sure what good learning… Read More »

St. Matthew’s Gospel has five long sermons — the best known being the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7. Matthew 13 is sometimes referred to as the Sermon in Parables. Parables were, of course, Jesus preferred manner of teaching. He most often did not present doctrine or catechism but stories. The meaning of these stories… Read More »

The Ten Commandments have seven “thou shalt NOTs” and three “thou shalt” — honor the Lord, honor the Lord’s Day, honor your parents. The emphasis seems to be on what we should not do more than on what we should do. Even the commandment to honor the Lord’s day — “Remember to keep holy the… Read More »

In the years immediately after Vatican Council older priests would come to the seminary for “updating.” They would learn the latest in Biblical scholarship and theological reflection. One priest came out of one session shaking his head and saying the words of Mary Magdalene:  “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they… Read More »