Daily Reflections
I love all things literary. I love hearing great dialogue in a movie. I am impressed when a subject expert takes a complex subject and makes it understandable. Great speeches can move me to tears. And nothing to me is more wonderful than reading a great book. Today’s readings speak…
Read More
Nathanael speaks God gave me gifts; a love for my people, a love for his word and visions of his glory. I was also given a longing for him which is endless. From boyhood I wrestled with His words and tried to live my life in simple docility to my…
Read More
For me, the most striking part of today’s readings are these lines: “Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men of every nationality, speaking different tongues, shall take hold, yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say, ‘Let us go with…
Read More
We hear about the discussion of the disciples on the way to Caesarea Philippi arguing who among them is the greatest. We might call this aspiration towards greatness, “ambition.” Ambition is not bad. It can motivate us and energize us to do great things for ourselves and others. Ambition can…
Read More
Today is the feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian, twin brothers who were both physicians. By accepting no payment for their services, they attracted many to the Christian faith. These two saints are my birthday patron saints, interestingly, born in Arabia, as was I. Not much is known of them…
Read More
What sustains life is hope. Without the hope of a better future, we can hardly survive the upheavals of the present. Here one recalls the opening words of the great Encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI, SPE SALVI facti sumus – “In hope we were saved, says Saint Paul to the…
Read More
Peter’s exclamation of “You are the Christ, the son of the Living God!” is a bold declaration of who Christ is. Yet, a moment later, his lack of faith in that statement earns him rebuke from Our Lord. Although not included in the reading today, in the verse directly after…
Read More
My dear friends, the gospel today is a very interesting one. It calls to mind the incident that happened between John the Baptist and Herod the Tetrarch. Herod put John in prison and later murdered him in favor of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, for the condemnation of…
Read More
As I spent time in prayerful reflection writing this, I felt convicted. Everyone always talks about counting your blessings, but how often do we actually sit down and realize everything that God has done for each and every one of us? With all that is going on given the current…
Read More
If you happen to enter the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome, Caravaggio’s genius offers the visitor a view of The Calling of Matthew. It comes alive in all its dramatic force. It is well worth the time spent contemplating this painting, a form of graphic catechetical piece…
Read More