The readings for the first Monday of Lent pair the Holiness Code from Leviticus (“be holy for I the Lord, your God, am holy”) with the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (“Whatsoever you do to the least, that you do unto me.”) The Old Testament lesson reminds us of the importance of acting… Read More »

Two of the young Brothers I live with are preparing for ordination. As part of that preparation they are learning how to celebrate the sacraments: how to preside at Mass, how to officiate at a wedding. They are also learning how to be good confessors. The professor is having them practice hearing confessions with their… Read More »

Do you remember a TV advertisement from a few years ago? “They make money the old-fashioned way: They earn it.” The idea of “earning it” is a big part of American culture. There’s no such thing as a free lunch goes a popular saying. While that might be true with society it is not true with… Read More »

“This is the fasting that I wish: Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.” These words from the prophet Isaiah remind us that our Lenten practices do not have as their primary aim self-improvement, like… Read More »

In “ordinary time” the scriptures for the day are done as a continuous reading — pick one book of the bible and one gospel and go through them chapter by chapter. During Lent the first reading and the gospel are chosen for that day and meant to complement each other. For example, the Book of… Read More »

While we can’t predict the future we can prepare for it. We watch the weather report to know what to wear the next day. We plan our retirement so we won’t have to eat cat food in our old age. We study in preparation for the test the professor will spring on us. Lent reminds… Read More »

Peter is trying to be what is now called “transactional” with Jesus. What am I going to get out of following you? Jesus answers, “Oh you’re going to get 100 times as much as you give up” … and then he adds, “and persecution besides.” Our relationship with God does not involve giving up so… Read More »

Why does Jesus object to being called good? “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.” Our Lord wanted the Rich Young Man (and hence, us) to understand that goodness is not an accomplishment or an achievement. No one is good because of their ability to keep the commandments or… Read More »

Some wag called it “wooden beam in the eye disease” — the tendency we have as humans to see clearly the faults of others but be blind to our own. If we want to see ourselves or others clearly, Jesus says, look to the “fruits.” Who is the one bringing peace and joy to others?… Read More »

Children were obviously very important to Jesus. He invokes them frequently in helping us understand what it means to be disciples. We must “become like children to enter the kingdom of God.”  We must be as humble as a child to be great in the kingdom. The kingdom of God belongs to children and “whoever… Read More »