As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace.” As you come down the Mount of Olives you arrive at a small chapel called Dominus Flevit, the Lord wept. This is the traditional site commemorating the scene reported in St.… Read More »

Both St. Matthew and St. Luke record what is known as the parable of the talents — three men are given something to invest and are judged by how well they did. Luke situtates his version in current events with the parable providing commentary on what is happening politically. The background (short version): when King… Read More »

“‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock.If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.” This passage from the Book of Revelation inspired a painting  by William Hunt entitled “The Light of the World.”  The painting depicts Jesus knocking on… Read More »

We are in the last weeks of the Church’s liturgical year so for the next two weeks the readings will be taken from the Book of Revelation which speaks of the end of things. John the Seer starts of f the book with a series of letters addressed to local churches. The first of these… Read More »

Imagine a time when the rich kept getting richer and the poor kept getting poorer. Imagine a time when taxes made it impossible to get ahead. Imagine a time when the big strong nations would invade and bully the smaller, weaker nations. Imagine a time when people with health issues had nowhere to turn to… Read More »

You are faithful in all you do for the brothers and sisters, especially for strangers; they have testified to your love before the Church. Please help them in a way worthy of God to continue their journey. Welcoming the stranger, treating the alien with compassion are Biblical commands in both the Old and the New… Read More »

The epistles of St. John, written late in the first century AD, testify to divisions that impacted the first generations of Christians. The theme of unity which was so prominent in the fourth gospel becomes the central concern of the epistles. St. John is not urging a “why can’t we all just get along kum-ba-ya”… Read More »

All the evidence suggests that Paul was a prolific letter writer but we have only one that was meant as a personal letter, to his friend Philemon. The Church preserved this letter and incorporated it into the Bible because its message can be applied to everyone. The situation: Philemon was a slave owner whose slave… Read More »

Today is the feast day of Mother Cabrini, the first American citizen to be named a saint. While in Italy she became aware of the plight of immigrants in the United States and brought the religious community she had formed, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, to the United States to care for them.… Read More »

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 »