“You are what you eat,” my mother used to tell me. She was trying to get me to put down the potato chip and pick up an apple. St. Paul has something similar in mind when he says, “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the Blood of Christ?… Read More »

The Olympics were not the only games held by the Greek states in ancient times. In non-Olympic years athletes would gather at Corinth (which is on an Isthmus) for what were know as the Isthmian games. Since St. Paul was a tent maker he had lots of business during the games. The apostle took the… Read More »

Social scientists ask: is it nature or nurture? Is how one turns out due to one’s genes or the way one was raised? The feast of the Birth of Mary suggests that both nature and nurture shape us. The scriptures describe Mary as part of a long history in Israel. Genealogies are listed to show… Read More »

We don’t know the exact words of Jesus. The New Testament was written thirty and more years after his death so we are dependent on the recollections of those who heard him. In addition, Jesus spoke in Aramaic and the Gospels are written in Greek so we are dealing with a translation of his words… Read More »

Jesus spent the night in prayer before he chose the twelve apostles. Always a wise move — to pray before making a major decision. You have to wonder what his criteria were in making the choice because, at first glance, the twelve do no look like the pick of the litter — Judas betrayed him,… Read More »

Being rich in mercy does not mean that anything goes. St. Paul, for example, when he hears of immorality in the Church at Corinth urges excommunication, “The one who did this deed should be expelled from your midst.” Certain behavior is expected of a follower of Jesus. However, Pope Francis stresses mercy in the Church… Read More »

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 »