You know the old story of the mother banging on her son’s door in the morning. “Johnny, wake up. It’s time to go to school.” He yells out from his room, “I don’t want to get up. I don’t want to go to school.” “Why not?” asks his mother. “Three reasons. First, school is no… Read More »

In the USA the civil year ends with excessive revelry and the new year begins with resolutions (not to engage in such revelry again?) The Church’s year (which ends today and a New Year begins tomorrow with the First Sunday of Advent) is not marked by such a dramatic transition. However, the Scripture does suggest… Read More »

When things seem to be going to hell in a hand basket the Biblical promise of a “new heaven and a new earth” is very attractive. This is not working, let’s try again! On the other hand, we need some stability, some security in a world filled with uncertainty. Thus the promise of Jesus that… Read More »

One of the great teachers in the spiritual life, Meister Eckhart, said: “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” That seems somewhat strange. What about prayers of contrition? or prayers of petition? Why is gratitude “enough?” What Meister Eckhart wants us to understand is… Read More »

The Battle Hymn of the Republic has the line: “He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.” This thought comes from the book of Revelation: “The angel swung his sickle over the earth and cut the earth’s vintage. He threw it into the great wine press of God’s fury.” Preachers… Read More »

Catholics approach the Book of Revelation with some caution since a proper understanding of the text requires careful interpretation. For example, when the book refers to the “144,000 who follow the Lamb” the John the Seer is not limiting those who will be saved to that specific number. Quite to the contrary, a correct understanding… Read More »

Although we don’t live in a kingdom, books and movies have given us some ideas of what kings and kingdoms are like. But those ideas are stood on their head on this particular feast day. What a strange sort of king we honor when we proclaim Christ to be our king. Instead of a lofty… Read More »

This week we remembered Cardinal Bernardine on the twentieth anniversary of his death. Part of his legacy that continues to echo in the Church is his “seamless garment” approach to issues of life. He reminded Catholics that issues relating to life are not limited to life in the womb but include anything that promotes human… Read More »

The money changers had legitimate business in the temple area. People would come to the temple to make an offering. However, the Roman coins had the image of Caesar on them and custom forbade a “graven image” in the temple area. The money changers were there to exchange a Roman coin for a “non-graven-image” Jewish… Read More »