The one thing which is sure, predictable, certain about our future is that we shall die. Lent can be looked upon as the practice of death. The traditional practices of Lent, prayer, fasting, almsgiving, are a way of orienting ourselves toward the God who loves us through life into death. We pray in order to… Read More »

The epistle of St. James warns us that “desire” is the source of temptation. When we desire something it can blind us to what is really good for us. Many have picked up this theme. St. Ignatius talked about our need for “indifference” — where our own desires are put aside so that we have… Read More »

“Why does this generation seek a sign?” Jesus asked. It should not have been a surprise to him that people sought a sign. There is a natural human tendency to look for the sure thing. In a world where you feel like people are kidding themselves or kidding you, how do you spot the genuine… Read More »

You have all, no doubt, seen a picture of the most famous touch in the history of art. On the ceiling of the Sistine chapel Michelangelo depicted the creation of Adam. The figure of Adam is lying languidly with his hand outstretched looking like he is chilling out. God the Creator is riding a whirlwind… Read More »

When confronted by a hungry crowd the disciples noticed their lacks, their deficits. “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Jesus asked them to focus instead on their assets. “How many loaves do you have?” It turned their assets were enough for God to do the rest and work a… Read More »

According to St. Mark, after Jesus had the encounter with the Syro-phoenician woman he made the one hundred mile journey to the Decapolis. The Decapolis was an confederation of Greek cities on the far side of the Sea of Galilee. Did Jesus take the experience in Tyre as an opening to expand his ministry outside… Read More »

Jesus was on vacation in what is now Lebanon. He seemed surprised that his rest time was crashed by a foreigner. He was clear about his mission and it didn’t include Greeks, “a Syrophoenician woman.” It was the woman’s obvious love for her daughter that caused him to expand his circle of care. We are tempted… Read More »

King Solomon is the theme of the first reading leading up to Ash Wednesday this year. His reputation in the Bible is that he is the great wisdom figure … but he did many stupid things. Everyone is a mixed bag. The story of the visit of the Queen of Sheba is pretty straightforward in… Read More »

The play, Fiddler on the Roof, begins with a song celebrating tradition. “Because of our traditions each of us knows who he is and what God expects us to do.” The rest of the play is about those traditions going bust. Traditions are necessary on the one hand, but they can be limiting on the other.… Read More »

.  Standing secure on the solid rock of faith happens when we pray.  As St. Mark points out in the first chapter of his gospel, even Jesus had to pray.  If Jesus who was the Son of God found a need for prayer, how much the more should we make sure that prayer is not… Read More »