When I was in leadership in the Missionary Servants one of my happy chores was to go to celebratory events — ordinations, professions, anniversaries and the like. The expectation was that at the end of the event I would say a few words of gratitude to those who were being feted and to those who… Read More »

In the epistle to the Corinthians, St. Paul describes the ministries in the church:  apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles,  healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues (I Corinthians 12:28). Only a short time later, in the Epistle to Titus we find a very different understanding of Church ministries.  I left you in… Read More »

A chicken and a pig were walking down the road chatting when they passed a diner. In the window was a sign, “Special today: bacon and eggs.” The chicken turned to the pig and said, “Isn’t that nice. We’re featured today.” “Nice for you,” said the pig. “You only have to make a contribution; I… Read More »

The origins of today’s feast is the dedication of a church — the Lateran Archbasilica (officially, Cathedral of the Most Holy Saviour and Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist in Lateran), the oldest public church in Rome and the seat of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. (St. Peter’s is in Vatican City, which… Read More »

Their minds are occupied with earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. Okay, St. Paul, our citizenship might be in heaven but we still have to pay the bills, go to the doctor, worry about politics, deal with the family, drive to work. We might be citizens of heaven but we are residents of… Read More »

Recently President Biden apologized for the treatment of native children at government sponsored reservation schools. Similar apologies have been extended in the Catholic Church for the abuse and dehumanizing treatment at schools run by the Church. The prevailing cultural ethos is to never admit wrong-doing. “Don’t explain, don’t complain” goes the public relations mantra. To… Read More »

Philippi was the first city in Europe that Paul evangelized. It was a “Roman Colony,” that is, retired soldiers from the Legions were given property there (and at various places throughout the empire) to ensure a friendly environment as the army moved throughout the Roman provinces. Paul seems to have great affection for the people… Read More »

In one sense, all sins are a repeat of the first. Adam and Eve grasped after something they didn’t have instead of receiving gratefully what God gave them. In our sinfulness we grasp after some pleasure, some power, some possession, some payback. Instead of gratitude we tend toward greed. Jesus came to reverse the human… Read More »

In the past several years the word “transactional” has entered political discourse in a major way. A transactional realtionship is one which is focused on “what’s in it for me.” The reality was always there (in Chicago they call it “quid pro quo”) but instead of being something done clandestinely, it has moved out into… Read More »

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Commandment keeping is in the news again since certain states are requiring that the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament be posted in classrooms. I would like to write a book one day entitled the Ten Commandments… Read More »