Stuff is really important to Catholics — bread, wine, water, oil, incense, medals, crucifix, etc.; and physical gestures as well — processions, laying on of hands, colors of the seasons, blessings. This all flows from a profound respect for the mystery of the Incarnation. Jesus chose to share a human life which means that the… Read More »

If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all according to folk wisdom. It reminds me of Mrs. Magillicudy who commented on her neighbor who was convicted of being a mass murderer: “Well, he was always nice to his mother.” It is easy to find fault, to criticize, to put down. St. James… Read More »

I knew of a situation when I was in New Jersey. A building contractor used undocumented immigrants for his projects. He would pay them every week — except for the last week of work. When the local priest went to ask him about this the contractor explained that was how he made his profit. The… Read More »

If you want to make God laugh, just tell God your plans. Or to put it more piously according to the Imitation of Christ: Man proposes; God disposes. In the Arab world there is a custom of adding “inshallah” — “God willing” — to any announcement of what will happen tomorrow. Many other cultures have… Read More »

My brother has a handicapped child. When his wife was expecting their second by law he had to go in for “genetic counselling.” My brother was somewhat belligerent with the counselor. “I love my eldest just the way she is and wouldn’t trade her for anything. I will love this child in the same way.”… Read More »

Ordinary time. After the forty days of Lent and fifty days of Easter we move into ordinary time. Since most of our lives are ordinary time there is a great spiritual benefit to be gained. The readings assigned to each day are part of the “continuous reading” of the Bible — going through the Bible… Read More »

What makes a church a church? Is it stain glass windows, a steeple and pews? That better not be the case or we’re in big trouble. But if not that, what does make a church a church? Is it the preacher preaching, the lectors lecting, the choir singing and the ushers ushing? What makes a… Read More »

In the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles we read that the post-resurrection Jesus movement consisted of Mary and the brothers, the eleven apostles and about one hundred others. Three years of work by the greatest preacher and teacher of all time and all he had to show for it was 120 followers.… Read More »

“Someone will lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus offered that prediction to St. Peter but not much prophetic insight lies behind that prediction. It is a common human experience. When we are young and full of spit and vinegar we imagine that our choices will be what determines our life. Reality… Read More »

The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus as recorded in St. John’s gospel ends with Our Lord praying for unity — “may they be one as we are one, Heavenly Father.” We know from the Acts of the Apostles that from the very beginning of the Jesus movement there were differences of opinion among Christians. The… Read More »