The anti-immigrant rhetoric in the country (which makes no sense since we are by and large a nation of immigrants) seems to be rooted in an exaggerated sense of who belongs to whom. If you come from the right family or the right ethnic group or speak the right language or share the same race… Read More »

In our creeds we make that claim that ours is an apostolic faith, a faith based on the preaching of the apostles. Since Jesus left us no writings himself, we are dependent on the witness of the apostles for all that we know about the Lord. The puzzlement is that the apostles who are so… Read More »

Anyone who was raised in a large family probably heard the phrase “but that’s not fair” more than a few times. “He got more French fries than I did. That’s not fair.” “I have to walk to school but she gets to ride the bus. That’s not fair.” If my sister and I were fighting… Read More »

There is a happy providence that the first reading from St. Paul and the gospel of Luke assigned for today both talk about seeds. The daily readings are done as a book by book, chapter by chapter so a common theme is rare. We should take particular notice when one occurs. What both passages stress… Read More »

I like to imagine that Mrs. Luke pestered him — “make sure you include the important role that women played in the mission of Jesus..”  Accompanying Jesus were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out…. The Bible doesn’t… Read More »

 I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received. This line from St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians gives a different side to the apostle. He ordinarily is pretty prickly about his status as an apostle. Even though he didn’t know Jesus in the flesh in insists that he is the… Read More »

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury. In a previous life, while a campus minister at LSU, I would do ten to twelve… Read More »

“Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel … and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Today’s feast, Our Lady of Sorrows, reminds us that even when you are the mother of God, you will have troubles. The gospel… Read More »

“So must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” Being “lifted up” is a positive thing — in English and in Greek. Those who are lifted up are the winners, the ones who are above the rest of us. That Jesus uses the term… Read More »

Old timers among us will remember the first question and answer in the Baltimore Catechism. “Who made you? God made me.” There is a presumption in that answer that we know what we’re talking about when we say, “God made me.” Who is this God? One thing was sure – the God who made the… Read More »