A common complaint is that our era — with secularism, materialism, consumerism — is hostile to living the gospel. Actually in every era Christians have made the same complaint. The symptoms might change but “the world” has different values than the gospel.  Remember when Paul was being held in prison he used his right as… Read More »

John 17 is called by scholars the “high priestly prayer” of Jesus. He knows that he will not be with this disciples much longer so he prays to God for them. At the end of the prayer he adds this petition: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in… Read More »

Jesus prayed to God for his disciples since  “the world hated them because they do not belong to the world.” When St. Paul give his final admonition to the “presbyters of the Church of Ephesus” he warned them savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock.  Both the Lord and the… Read More »

I might have to re-think preaching at funerals. I usually say something like: “the beloved departed now lives in a richer and fuller eternal life.” But Jesus taught that eternal life begins today.  Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. We… Read More »

Jesus said, “In the world you will have trouble.”  He got that right! We can simply add the pandemic to the whole list of troubles that plague us in the world: war, racism, urban violence, violence against women, child abuse, poverty, global warming, lack of educational opportunities … I could go on but you get… Read More »

It must have been 1970 or 71. The seminarians gathered on a hill behind the main building to celebrate Ascension Day Mass. Bright and sunny with a nice breeze. The opening song which featured guitar and tambourine was “Up, up, and away” accompanied, of course, by a release of helium balloons. The closing song was… Read More »

Before the followers of Jesus were known as Christians they called themselves “the Way.” One of those first followers, a man named Apollos had not been fully catechized. The friends of St. Paul, Priscilla and Aquila, took him aside and explained to him the Way of God more accurately. There is something attractive about thinking of the… Read More »

The modern city of Corinth was re-built in a slightly different place from the city that St. Paul knew after an earthquake. In the ruins of the ancient city you can see the procounsel’s seat, the place where Gallio would have presided. Standing in front of the seat you are literally standing in the footsteps… Read More »

Paul went to Corinth. There he met Aquila who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. They were tentmakers by trade. The New Testament is not a far off fantasy world but a place we recognize. Government officials jerking around the little guy. Working… Read More »

St. Paul went to Athens, the center of education and learning in the ancient world, the home of Plato and Socrates, the cultural capital of the Roman empire. He was country come to city. He wanted to show he belonged. He wanted to be smart and sophisticated.  “You Athenians, I see that in every you… Read More »