Jesus had a pastoral practice different from the way I was taught. As a confessor, I was trained to see if the penitent had a “firm purpose of amendment.” In other words, before giving absolution there should be some evidence that the person is sorry for what they did and resolved not to do it… Read More »

St. John has a way of making seeming throw away asides serve as commentary on the event described. For example, when Judas leaves the table at the Last Supper on his way to betrayal St. John writes. “It was night” (John 13:30). He is not pointing out the time of day but the state of… Read More »

The movie, Good Will Hunting, the main character, Will, is a brilliant but troubled young man. He is in therapy to help him adjust better to life. He tells his therapist all of the abuse and suffering and trouble that characterized his life. The climax of the movie happens when the therapist, having build up… Read More »

In a recent interview a member of the administration was asked if some of their actions didn’t violate the vision of the founding fathers. His answer: those men lived 250 years ago and we are in a new situation today. Why should we listen to them? That is a particularly modern and American response. In… Read More »

Both theologians and mystics agree, anything we say about God is more wrong than it is right. God is so much more, so much beyond human language that whatever words we use will inevitablly fall short of the reality we are attempting to describe. Islam captures this reality by invoking the “99 names of God.”… Read More »

Jesus asked the man who had been sick for 38 yearsm”Do you want to be well?” Instead of answering the man gave his excuse on why he wasn’t well. That is a story all too familiar. Jesus asks us, Do you want to be well? Do you want to be happy? Do you want to… Read More »

There shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create; For I create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight. While Lent is certainly designed as a penitential season its primary function is to lead those approaching the Church to the Easter sacrments. Particularly in these last two weeks… Read More »

We have become accustomed to movies having sequels. After The Godfather you get The Godfather, Part II; Fast and Furious One leads to Fast and Furious Fifty-Seven or whatever current number is.  In addition, if a movie is really successful, they will at times make not only a sequel but also a prequel, a movie… Read More »

For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice. This was one of Jesus’ favorite Bible quotes! It is also a constant challenge for the Church. A few years ago there was a priest meeting where the topic of destination weddings came up. Should there be some accomodation made for those who want to get… Read More »

Have you ever noticed that when Jesus is asked about the greatest commandment the actual command word, the imperative, is “hear.” Love, the commandment suggests, is what happens when you hear how God loves us already, before we do anything. The readings for today stress hearing: the prophet Hosea, “Take with you words” and the… Read More »