The prophet Ezekiel accurately describes God’s justice: “the life of the father is like the life of the son, both are mine; only the one who sins shall die.” Everyone faces judgement on the basis of their behaviors and actions, not those of the family. This is not to say, however, that we are not… Read More »
AUGUST172018
During the rite of marriage after the couple exchange vows the celebrant prays the words of Jesus: “what God has joined together, man must not separate.” That is the ideal. Reality, sadly, is that the bonds of marriage do at times unravel. Pope Francis has challenged the Church to hold onto our ideals while at… Read More »
AUGUST162018
The prophet Ezekiel is told by God to “migrate from where you live to another place.” This displacement in geography will provide a lesson for the people of God. The gospel writers are also sensitive to geography. “Jesus left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.” The prophet action of Jesus being… Read More »
AUGUST152018
“In Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order.” These words of St. Paul can serve as the background for the Assumption of Mary. The feast says that Mary already enjoys the ultimate triumph to be won by Christ on the last day. That she does so is “proper order.”… Read More »
AUGUST142018
Someone once observed that humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. If that is true, and it sounds right to me, then when Jesus says “Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven” he is asking us to get over our obsession with self,… Read More »
AUGUST132018
This summer we have been reading from the Old Testament prophets. For the next two weeks the selections will be taken from Ezekiel. He is a prophet of exile whose mission was to help the Judeans in a foreign land understand that God was with them even in the midst of their difficulties. He could… Read More »
AUGUST122018
Today in the small village of Guamal on the Magdalena River of Colombia Deacon Gustavo is distributing Holy Communion to the children who are attending Sunday School. On the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica Father Mariano is deciding how many of the forty-two chapels that comprises the parish of Santo Domingo de Guzman he will… Read More »
AUGUST112018
The prophet Habakkuk wrote during a time of great distress for Israel. The nation was defeated, the people were exiled, the temple was destroyed. In the midst of great suffering he offers a vision of hope from God. “Write down the vision: For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will… Read More »
AUGUST102018
Seventeenth century artist Georges de la Tour painted several versions of The Repentant Magdalene. They picture the saint holding a skull, obviously meditating on death in a scene dramatically lit by a single candle. The custom of Memento mori (Latin: “remember that you have to die”) is the practice of reflection on mortality, especially as a means of considering… Read More »
AUGUST92018
Jeremiah’s call for “a new covenant” is particularly timely today. The number of people who are estranged from the Church are growing. The way to this new covenant comes in answering the question that Jesus posed to his disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” Coming to know Jesus will create the covenant written… Read More »
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