Fans of PBS might recognize G.K. Chesterton as the author of the Father Brown detective stories. He was a prolific author and famously once wrote: “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.” That he had a sharp wit can be seen in another of… Read More »
FEBRUARY192022
We usually think about sin as coming from some craving or desire on our part that leads to things like sexual indiscretion, over eating or drinking. The Bible describes an even more ominous avenue to sin in the human tendency to division and discord. For St. James the primary instrument sowing discord is the tongue.… Read More »
FEBRUARY182022
When Jesus asked the disciples “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” Jesus responded by talking about his suffering and death. When Peter objected Jesus told him “You are not thinking as God thinks.” To reinforce the message Jesus then gathered the crowd and told them: “Whoever wishes to… Read More »
FEBRUARY172022
Show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. This passage from the epistle of St. James reminded me of the first time I visited the church in Guamal, Colombia. When I went to Mass, right in the front of the congregation was a man who obviously had some… Read More »
FEBRUARY162022
One of the foundational principles of Martin Luther who inspired the Protestant reformation was: faith alone saves. However, in the epistle of James we read: Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. Martin Luther dismissed this epistle because it ran contrary to the emphasis on faith alone. However, another of his… Read More »
FEBRUARY152022
We read the Epistle of James for the next weeks. The apostle provides guidance on living a Christian life. The danger to a spiritual life he suggests is desire. Each person is tempted when lured and enticed by his desire. Many traditions have a similar approach. For Buddhists, the enlightenment comes when one acheives desirelessness.… Read More »
FEBRUARY142022
You can understand why Jesus got a little snappish with the Pharisees. He had just fed 5000 people with five loaves and two fish when they came forward and began to argue with Jesus seeking from him a sign from heaven. Hello. Did you see what just happened? Reminds me of the story of the… Read More »
FEBRUARY132022
How do you know when you are blessed? I googled a Christian website. Some of the answers: You know you are blessed when your prayers are answered. You know you are blessed when you and your loved ones are healthy. You know you are blessed when you needs are well provided for. You know you… Read More »
FEBRUARY122022
When the disciples saw the hungry crowd they thought in terms of what they didn’t have. “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Jesus asked them to focus on what they did have. “How many loaves do you have?” Once you see how blessed you are it can… Read More »
FEBRUARY112022
The way St. Mark tells the story, after the encounter with the Syro-phoencian woman Jesus started to think of his mission as including more than “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the… Read More »
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