English poet Leigh Hunt tells a story about a man named Abou ben Adhem. Abou woke up one night to the vision of an angel writing in a book. He asked the angel what he was writing and the angel said, “the name of those who love the lord.” “IsContinue Reading
The question put to Jesus in today’s Gospel was not a question he was expected to answer. In the minds of the Pharisees and Herodians, there was no correct answer. The Pharisees were opposed to the tax while the Herodians favored it. In their narrow political view of the world,Continue Reading
The parable of the man without the wedding garment challenges our way of thinking. After the invited guests refuse to come, they are destroyed and the king sends his servants to bring whomever they may find. One guest is severely punished for disobeying the king’s wishes. We may be temptedContinue Reading
Too often, our prayer is self-centered rather than God-centered. It becomes all about us, our needs, our wants and our desires, rather than what God wants of us. This is not how we were taught to pray. Saint Paul reminds us that our prayer should not be a litany ofContinue Reading
One son refused to do his father’s bidding, but later repented and did as requested. The other son agreed immediately but did not do as he was asked. Both sons have lessons to teach. God values a late conversion. He demonstrated this in the justice and mercy He showed toContinue Reading
It is said that frustration results when reality does not meet our expectations. Perhaps the real secret to internal peace is to adjust our expectations. Nothing disturbs our inner peace more than the thirst for recognition and esteem in the eyes of the world. Are we always comparing ourselves toContinue Reading
The importance of symbols in our culture cannot be underestimated. A symbol is a type of shorthand that connects us to a person, an event, or an ideal. Even today more than 60 years and two generations after their defeat, the swastika of the Nazi party still reminds us ofContinue Reading
Paul’s comments on love are given in the context of justice. His words preceding today’s readings tell us “Pay to all their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, toll to whom toll is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.” (Romans 13:7).Continue Reading
We are not here to make a broken world run smoothly; we are here to be signs of contention. We are called to conform ourselves not to this world, but to Christ. By doing this we transform ourselves into both a sermon and a sacrifice to the world. Suffering isContinue Reading
Although the terms are not used much these days the Church has been traditionally divided into three parts. The Church Triumphant refers to the souls in Heaven; they have triumphed over sin and wickedness and enjoy the beatific vision that is God. They have won the fight. The Church SufferingContinue Reading