The call of the first disciples in St. Luke’s gospel is a model of the process that we all go through in following Jesus. Like Peter and companions “fishing all night” we try to find our own happiness and we remain unfulfilled. Hearing the word of Jesus we are attracted to his message of love… Read More »

We begin reading today from St. Paul’s letter to the Church in Colossae. As was Paul’s custom he begins the letter with a word of appreciation for that particular community, a prayer of thanksgiving that they are living the faith. Of course, as was also Paul’s custom, he will fuss with the Colossians about where… Read More »

During Ordinary Time of the liturgical year the readings provided each day are done as a “continuous reading,” a lectio continuuo. The Church picks a book and then we go through it chapter by chapter. For the next three months the gospel chosen for each day will be taken from the Gospel of St. Luke.… Read More »

Jesus inaugurates his public ministry in St. Luke’s gospel by quoting from the prophet Isaiah: “The spirit of the Lord is upon me.” Jesus applies to himself the prophetic image of bringing healing, peace, freedom and good news to the poor. This “mission statement” that Jesus makes at the beginning of his ministry contrasts with… Read More »

One of the reasons there are so many skyscrapers in Chicago is because you can drill down to bedrock.  You can build a firm foundation on rocky ground, firm enough to hold up a tall building.  When you see a house made out of stone you know it is well built.  A stone house will… Read More »

St. Paul tells the people of Thessalonica “to work with your own hands.” The master in the Parable of the Talents expects his servants to do the work which will make his investment grow.  As people of faith we rely on God’s grace and providence in the world. But the Bible is clear that God… Read More »

“This is the will of God, your holiness.” These words of St. Paul struck me because the idea of being holy is not my normal aspiration. I want to be a good person, to act decently. But holiness seems to be meant for someone else, for those who smell faintly of incense. St. Paul is… Read More »

The Church has borrowed from the world of business the practice of developing five year plans, setting strategic goals, laying out long term priorities. While this is all to the good we should never forget the “present tense” reality that underlies the Bible. Jesus says, “Stay awake,” “Be alert,” “Watch.” Not what is happening at… Read More »

St. Paul’s first letter to the church in Thessalonica is the oldest part of the New Testament — written about 51 A.D., twenty or so years after the death of Jesus. Although we use the fancy term “epistle” to refer to Paul’s correspondence they are recognizable as letters, as communication to people that he knew… Read More »

John the Baptist was one of the pivotal figures in the history of salvation. (He is also revered in Islam.) In the gospel of John, for example, the Baptist points out Jesus as “the Lamb of God.” The synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) seem a little truer to the actual history in portraying John… Read More »