Antioch in what is now Syria was a major city in the Roman Empire. It became one of the hubs of the early Christian movment. St. Peter is considered the first bishop having fled to Antioch in the face of persecution in Jerusalem. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians, that… Read More »

There was a popular song when I was a young priest using the words of the beatitudes. It had the refrain: “That they may see the good that we do and give glory to God.” The director of liturgy objected to the song thinking that it focused on human action. He changed the lyrics to… Read More »

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Doesn’t it seem kind of rude to address one’s mother as “woman!” But, as always, even on the cross Jesus was teaching us. To be a Jew was a matter of biology — you… Read More »

The coming of the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts is like a Hollywood Blockbuster with special effects: After fifty days of waiting 120 men and women gathered in one place, strong driving wind coming from out of the sky, tongues as of fire resting on each one, speaking in different languages. You would… Read More »

During the fifty days of Easter the first reading has been taken from the Acts of the Apostles. It took 46 of those days to read the first nineteen chapters of the book verse by verse. The last four days are given over to the final nine chapters. Those part of ACTS are worth reading… Read More »

“Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”  He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” After the Resurrection Jesus has one more lesson to convey to St. Peter: if you claim to love me you prove it by taking care of those who… Read More »

 Jesus prayed saying: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.” At the last supper, on the night before he died, Jesus was thinking about us, about you and me. We are the ones who believe because someone shared the faith with us. What a… Read More »

There is a saying that the role of parents is to provide their children with roots and wings. Roots — a set of values and practices that will help them to understand who they are and how they fit into the world. Wings — the freedom to be themselves, not to be constrained by the… Read More »

St. John ends the FInal Discourse at the Last Supper with what scholars call the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus. Jesus turns from instructing his disciples to praying for them, prayer for those who have accompanied him in his ministry and are gathered around the table. It is important to Jesus to offer this prayer… Read More »

For the past several weeks the Gospel for the day has been taken from what is known as the Last Discourse, chapters 14-17 of St. John’s Gospel. The Discourse given at the Last Supper is something of Jesus’ last will and testament, his final instructions to the apostles and disciples. And as is so often… Read More »