What were you looking for, Peter? Were you looking for bread with all the rest, and so you followed this man, Jesus, because you knew that he could provide it? It seems there was something more in you, but even you did not know what it was.
My Lord, for you I present endless bounds of grandeur. A magnificent cathedral with high steeples and heavy wooden doors leading within. The bells ring out mightily to announce your arrival. Candles on the altar; their flames flicker and tremble in your presence. Clouds of incense rise to the Heavens; prayers from the faithful ascend [...]
"As the deer longs for running streams, so my soul longs for you, O Lord." Psalm 42:1 Whether they acknowledge it or not, everyone can relate, in some capacity, to the longing described in Psalm 42. We experience normal daily desires for things like more freedom, better weather, more friends, or a different job. But [...]
What were you looking for, Peter? That day out there on the lake, what were you hoping to find? You were a fisherman searching for fish. You worked all night, dropping nets into the dark, hoping to find something you couldn't see. Every time you threw that net...
What is our job, as Catholics, when our nation tumbles into chaos, violence, and political mayhem? This is a fair question to ask, especially for anyone living in the United States these days. Unfortunately I do not hear a lot of people asking it. Everyone seems to think they know exactly what their job is. [...]
Hear the words of St. Paul: “rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your forbearance be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:4-7).
First, we need to know who we are. We need to know where we are. We need to know the situation we are in. This is the knowledge of self which the Fathers taught us was so important. This is the message of the Old Testament. It is the call to "repent!" (Acts 2:38). It [...]
In his first Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul addresses prominent divisions that plagued the Church during his time. He calls out the problem by saying, "there is jealousy and strife among you" (1 Cor 3:3). Many people belonging to the Church at Corinth were splitting into separate groups based on which preacher inspired their [...]
I was very distracted during mass today. There were a number of things happening around me that made it hard to focus on what was happening at the altar. They were the typical things. The kids behind me were restless and vocal. The sign of peace was awkward. The music selections were questionable. I was [...]
Many of us are aware that Friday is a "day of penance" in the Church and that, for a long time, Canon Law required Catholics to abstain from meat on all Fridays. If you know this, you probably also know that the Canon changed, and Catholics are no longer bound to this practice under pain [...]
