When my mother would say “I’ve told you 10,000 time…” she would add, “hyperbole added for emphasis,” … that is unless she really had told me 10,000 times. Jesus reflected his Semitic culture in using hyperbole. “If you eye is your problem, pluck it out.” Hyperbole lies behind statements like the necessity of hating ones… Read More »

Father Judge, the founder of my religious congregation, used to say “every Catholic is called to be an apostle.” His instinct was that in the providence of our everyday life we can bring the good news of God’s grace and mercy into our homes, workplaces, schools, gyms. While that is certainly a noble calling we… Read More »

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gives one of his particular commandments: “Stop judging.” St. Paul picks up that commandment in his first letter to the Church at Corinth: “do not make any judgment before the appointed time.” This New Testament theme seems difficult to understand at first but in context it makes perfect… Read More »

As St. Luke describes it the call of the first disciples shows that following Jesus took some getting used to. First Jesus asked Simon something easy — can I use your boat? Sure. Then something harder: throw your nets for a catch. If you say so, Lord, I’ll try it. Then, follow me. “Leave me,… Read More »

People flocked around Jesus at the beginning of his ministry. But Jesus did something unexpected: “At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.” He took time out to pray. The outcome of the prayer was Jesus’ decision to move out of his familiar comfort zone and spread his message to a wider audience.… Read More »

The demon says to Jesus, “I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” I find that chilling. It suggests to me that it is no big deal to know about Jesus — even the demons know about Jesus. What is needed is to know Jesus, to know him as the source of our life,… Read More »

I can relate to King Herod. We’re told that “when he heard [John the Baptist] speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him.” Like the King I get perplexed when I hear the gospel message. If I turn the other cheek won’t I keep getting slapped? If I love my… Read More »

Jesus got invited to a dinner party at the home of one of the high muckety-mucks. But the invitation was not about kicking back, having a glass of wine and shooting the breeze with his homies. St. Luke tells us that he was invited in order to be checked out. “The people there were observing… Read More »

It is just a coincidence that the word “talent” in the Bible, referring to a large sum of money, means something different in common English usage. Or maybe, in fact, it is a providence — a God given opportunity to look at the “parable of the talents” with fresh eyes. God has gifted each of… Read More »

When St. Paul went to Athens he apparently decided to show his stuff. He was smart, he was educated, he knew rhetoric as well as anyone. According to the Acts of the Apostles he made a brilliant presentation — but failed to move hearts toward conversion. His first letter to the Corinthians suggests that after… Read More »