We confess in our creeds that we are an apostolic church. From the foundation of the apostles the mission of Jesus continues. The insight of the founder of my religious congregation, Father Thomas Judge, C.M., is that “every Catholic is called to be an apostle.” The good news will not be spread by institutions or… Read More »

The gospels were written to help us to come to know Jesus. As St. Mark tells the story you would think that the case was closed right from the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. In chapter one the heavenly voice says, “You are my beloved Son” and the unclean spirit names Jesus “the holy one… Read More »

“Melchizedek met Abraham and blessed him.” Melchizedek appears in only three verses in the Book of Genesis. In the letter to the Hebrews he is prominently featured. Why so much emphasis on such a seemingly minor figure? In the case of the early Church Melchizedek provides a model to expand the notion of what it… Read More »

Recently the community here at St. James reflected about the election. I said that the ugliness and divisiveness filled me with a sense of depression about the future of the country. The young Brothers spoke of their initial fear at the election results. Their family, their friends, the people they work with will all be… Read More »

I am always struck by the way the Letter to the Hebrews describes the Agony in the Garden: “he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.” He was heard, the epistle assures us, even… Read More »

Wouldn’t you like to have a time machine? You could go back in time to North Africa and watch them build the pyramids. Or forward in time to ride on the first star ship that blasts off to Alpha Centauri. And the people: wouldn’t it be something to meet Abraham Lincoln? Or even Jesus? That… Read More »

According to the Letter to the Hebrews Jesus is able “to sympathize with our weaknesses” since he “has similarly been tested in every way.” When I think of the ways I have been tested the last presidential election comes to mind. It filled me with fear and with a sense of hopelessness. But most of… Read More »

The four men who toted their paralyzed friend to see Jesus are among the “silent witnesses to the Gospel,” in Allan Wright’s commentary. They remind us that besides the main characters in the drama — Jesus and the paralytic — other individuals play a vital role. If his four friends had not brought their friend… Read More »

During these days of “ordinary time” until the season of Lent the daily readings will feature the Gospel of St. Mark. One of the motifs in the Gospel scholars call “the messianic secret.” St. Mark portrays Jesus as trying to hush up people from talking about his might deeds. For example, in the first chapter… Read More »

Jesus “had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way,” according to the epistle to the Hebrews. One way that he is like us is in his limitations. When Jesus begins his ministry the demands on him are great. He does not overdo but instead takes a break, spends some time at rest.… Read More »