When you reach a certain age you walk into a room and ask yourself, “Why did I come here? What was I looking for?” Your keys? Your glasses? Your hat? That question is not limited to a faulty memory but can expand into life itself. Why am I here? What am I looking for? I’m… Read More »

After washing the feet of his disciples Jesus told them, “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” Jesus’ model of humble service is not what is honored or respected in modern society. We admire the movers and the shakers, those climbing the ladder,… Read More »

The way that Matthew and Mark tell the story in their respective gospels when Jesus announced that one of the twelve was going to betray him, each of them asked “Is it I, Lord?” That says to me that each of them knew they were capable of it. They knew that they were still so… Read More »

You need to be aware of the moves St. John makes as he wrote the fourth gospel. In Chapter 13, for example, after the dialogue between Jesus and Judas and the betrayer leaves the Last Supper we read “It was night.” Of course, it was night. They were eating supper. St. John does not throw… Read More »

When Matthew and Mark report this scene of the anointing of Jesus the ones objecting to the expense of the ointment are generic: the disciples or the crowds. When St. John reports the story Judas is the one objecting to the expense “because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to… Read More »

Triumph or tragedy?  We begin Holy Week with the account of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  Cheering crowds, back-slapping, high fives, “you go-s,” all around.  Then we tell the tragic story of Jesus crucifixion.  Betrayal, condemnation, suffering and death.  And yet, a deeper insight into these two events reverses the initial impression we might have… Read More »

During Lent the two readings for the day are chosen to complement each other. On this last day before Holy Week you have to work to find how the readings fit. The Old Testament lesson from the Prophet Ezekiel is promised triumph. “They shall live on the land that I gave to my servant Jacob,… Read More »

When confronted by a hostile crowd Jesus proposed “believe the works I perform, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” When I think about the “works” of service, charity and justice that the Church performs daily I am awed. Totally under the radar… Read More »

Can you imagine holding a new born child in your arms and you coo to the mother, “This baby is beautiful.” The mother responds, “You think the baby is beautiful. You should see her picture.” Never happen, right! The reality of the child with smooth skin and tiny nails and smelling of baby powder is… Read More »

One day God appeared to Hepzibah as she was doing her wash. “Hepzibah, it’s time to die.  I want to welcome you into the kingdom, to give you the pearl of great price, to shower on you the treasures of heaven, to give you unending happiness.”  But when Hepzibah heard that she got worried.  Was… Read More »