If you ask any catechist (or any catechized child) what were the commandments of Jesus they would, no doubt, answer: love God and love your neighbor. While that is a good answer it is not exactly how Jesus answered the question about the most important commandment. Quoting from the Bible in the traditional Jewish prayer… Read More »

Saint Joseph is held up as a model father, husband,  worker,  and man of faith. He is central to the story of salvation since it is from him that Jesus gets his identity as the “son of David,” and, hence, as the Messiah. The genealogies in both Matthew and Luke trace Jesus’ Davidic lineage through… Read More »

Ronald Reagan famously said, “the government that governs best governs least.” The idea seems to have been that a society with the maximum of freedom, no regulations or rules, would be the best. This is not the way the Bible thinks. (It wasn’t the way the Founding Fathers thought either but that is another discussion.)… Read More »

The people of Israel were in exile and had no opportunity to pray, to worship as they were accustomed . The prophet laments the situation but sees a new opportunity to connect with God. We have in our day … no burnt offering, sacrifice, oblation, or incense. But with contrite heart and humble spirit let… Read More »

There is a famous novel by Thomas Wolfe entitled You Can’t Go Home Again.  The gist of the book: if you try to return to a place you remember from the past it won’t be the same as you remember it. That works both ways. When you go home again you will be different as well and the homeys… Read More »

There was a show on the radio for many years called “What d’ya know?” When the announcer would ask the question the audience would answer, “Not much. You?” I know that they have Mass in the Vatican every day. I know that the Cardinal of Chicago will urge us to go to Church on Sunday.… Read More »

The story of the Prodigal Son is a beloved parable of Jesus. According to St. Luke Jesus told the parable in response to a challenge: The Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”   The story is really about a father and two sons, not just the prodigal.… Read More »

Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons … and he had made him a long tunic.  What happened to the “coat of many colors,” to say nothing of “the amazing technicolor dreamcoat?” “Long tunic” might reflect the Hebrew better but it doesn’t have the same zip. What does have zip is the family dynamic playing… Read More »

For a truly terrifying movie you don’t need vampires or zombies or Stephen King. Go to see The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. — the story of a loving family who are excited because the father has gotten a big promotion. However, the promotion is to run a Nazi death camp. The movie is terrifying… Read More »

The people of Jerusalem conspired against Jeremiah by asserting they didn’t need him since he did not supply “instruction, counsel or messages.” Apparently they thought that those things are the what religion or faith does. But those things are all external, not intrinsic to one’s person. You can taken them or leave them. Jeremiah, on… Read More »