As the Archdiocese has been going through its renewal process one recurring question has centered around numbers: how many parishioners are on the books, how many are in  the pews. While those can be a legitimate concerns the gospel suggests that other factors should have priority. “Whoever is not against us is for us.” Jesus… Read More »

Sister Millicent told us fifth graders that at every hour of the day, all around the world, the same Mass was being celebrated. Of course, since Vatican II while the Mass is celebrated at every hour around the world it is now celebrated in a rich chorus of voices with diverse musical accompaniment. This difference… Read More »

“I do believe, help my unbelief!” We have all probably prayed like the father of the epileptic boy at one time or another. We do believe that God is all good and desires our welfare. However, when we are going through a health crisis or a family emergency or experiencing financial worries we can wonder… Read More »

Fans of PBS might recognize G.K. Chesterton as the author of the Father Brown detective stories. He was a prolific author and famously once wrote: “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.” That he had a sharp wit can be seen in another of… Read More »

We usually think about sin as coming from some craving or desire on our part that leads to things like sexual indiscretion, over eating or drinking. The Bible describes an even more ominous avenue to sin in the human tendency to division and discord. For St. James the primary instrument sowing discord is the tongue.… Read More »

When Jesus asked the disciples “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” Jesus responded by talking about his suffering and death. When Peter objected Jesus told him “You are not thinking as God thinks.” To reinforce the message Jesus then gathered the crowd and told them: “Whoever wishes to… Read More »

Show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. This passage from the epistle of St. James reminded me of the first time I visited the church in Guamal, Colombia. When I went to Mass, right in the front of the congregation was a man who obviously had some… Read More »

One of the foundational principles of Martin Luther who inspired the Protestant reformation was: faith alone saves. However, in the epistle of James we read: Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. Martin Luther dismissed this epistle because it ran contrary to the emphasis on faith alone. However, another of his… Read More »

We read the Epistle of  James for the next weeks. The apostle provides guidance on living a Christian life. The danger to a spiritual life he suggests is desire. Each person is tempted when lured and enticed by his desire. Many traditions have a similar approach. For Buddhists, the enlightenment comes when one acheives desirelessness.… Read More »

You can understand why Jesus got a little snappish with the Pharisees. He had just fed 5000 people with five loaves and two fish when they came forward and began to argue with Jesus seeking from him a sign from heaven. Hello. Did you see what just happened? Reminds me of the story of the… Read More »