Today’s Gospel obviously is not against keeping precepts—such as paying the tithe (a concrete way to financially support one’s parish community)—but reminds us that, in doing so, we must not forget love and justice, which lie at the heart of every authentically Christian action. Jesus speaks of the hypocrisy of…
As humans, we so much cherish freedom. Our free will to make decisions and act in daily life shapes who we become over time. But what does it mean to be truly free before God? Can someone observe religious prescriptions faithfully and yet remain spiritually enslaved? Paul’s letter to the…
First the Luke-Matthew Connection: Today’s Gospel verses are paralleled in Matthew 13: 38-42. Both record Jesus’ address to a crowd who ask for a sign, perhaps expecting something so spectacular as to overcome their doubt that Jesus is the Messiah. Our Lord proclaims that this unfaithful generation would only see…
Today, we often hear about “dress codes” to observe and “outfits” to pay attention to in everyday life. For better or worse, we all know what they are: terms related to clothing, how we dress in certain situations in order not to clash with the environment or the situation we…
Every parent knows both the power and danger of making a promise to one’s child. When we give our child a pledge that a certain event will happen, he rests assured that it will. A parent’s promise means a great deal. On the other hand, making any promise to one’s…
In the spiritual life, we can face the danger of a slow, quiet drifting away from God, and if not controlled, it can lead to an outright rejection of God. You can break bad habits and look perfectly fine on the outside, yet still be empty on the inside. This…
In the history of Christian spirituality and theology, few dynamics have generated as much tension as the relationship between faith and works. Yet, when viewed through the lens of Catholic tradition, this tension dissolves into a rhythm of grace. To understand this harmony, we must look to the root and…
Today’s Gospel presents us with the well-known incident of Mary and Martha. We’re reminded of how God calls us to give ourselves entirely to Him and, especially as active and often busy people, we need to be reminded how not to lose ourselves in the midst of our tasks. Let’s…
Generally, the parable of the Good Samaritan is taken as an invitation to show love by serving those in need, regardless of who they are. However, the experience of a young man I met recently showed me that this parable can also be understood as an invitation to love others…
The vineyard is one of the Bible’s most tender images. It speaks of patient care: soil cleared, vines planted, walls built, a watchtower raised. In Isaiah, the owner has done everything a vineyard needs. He waits for good grapes—but finds wild ones instead. In Catholic biblical interpretation, the “vineyard” in…