All seven of our sacraments must have a valid form, valid matter, and proper intent. For baptism the valid matter is water. Water is the symbol of freely given grace that brings us healing salvation. The baptism administered by John is not the baptism of our sacrament. John preached aContinue Reading
Today we celebrate the Epiphany, the feast of the Three Kings. In the Gospel we hear the story of the Magi and the first revelation of Jesus to the Gentiles. Israel at the time had become deaf to God’s Word and blind to His revelations. Then one day strangers fromContinue Reading
Did you know that a Catholic bishop once had a primetime television show about Faith? He even won an Emmy in 1953 for the most outstanding television personality, beating Lucille Ball among others. For five years Bishop Fulton Sheen instructed America in the Catholic faith. And every time he wentContinue Reading
As we near the end of Advent, God begins to unfold His plan. David contemplates building a temple to God. But like so many of us, David is thinking in a small and limited way. God’s plan is much larger than we can comprehend. He confirms that David is theContinue Reading
In today’s Gospel John the Baptizer tells us “there is one among you whom you do not recognize.” One verse before the beginning of today’s readings we hear “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Or as the Douay Rheims translation reads, “And theContinue Reading
“John the Baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” John is the herald, calling us to prepare the way for the Lord. In the bible, the wilderness is the place where one encounters God. It is where Israel received the law whenContinue Reading
We are in danger of losing the sense of the sacredness of Advent. Each year the “Christmas music” seems to begin a little earlier. Each year the marketers seem a little more aggressive in their efforts to get shoppers to spend more money and buy more things. And each yearContinue Reading
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta was once staying with a community of sisters working with the Aborigines of Australia. She learned of a man who lived isolated from the community. Everyone ignored him and his house was disordered and dirty. Mother Teresa visited him and offered to clean his house,Continue Reading
Devout people of the Jewish faith are expected to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem at least once in their lives. Hindus annually descend upon the Ganges River for Kumbh Mela. And the Islamic Hajj dictates that all Muslims must visit Mecca if at all possible. But Christians do not believeContinue Reading
Imagine yourself on your deathbed. Today is your last day on earth and as you look back on your life, stripped of all its external trappings and pettiness, what remains important? At the end, when your day to day striving for success or achievements no longer matter, what is left?Continue Reading