The gospel today is the fiercest critique of Jesus over the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees. He highlights their character of pride and selfishness, their love for outward displays of piety, desire for honor, and their struggle for titles and places of authority, against the humble service of authentic…
Read More
For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – (Isaiah 9:6) Today, the Holy Mother church celebrates the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.…
Read More
The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. ‘Come to the wedding banquet.’ Quite honestly, I was surprised to receive the invitation. Although I suppose it was to be expected. My father had been recognized for his service to the…
Read More
Our first reading today from the Book of Judges, chapter 9, presents us with a fascinating parable about choosing wise leadership to rule over one’s community or nation. Let us understand the context of the tale of the trees. Gideon had fought valiantly and defeated the Midianites, and during his…
Read More
Today’s scriptures show we have a caring God who is not aloof to the travails that afflict humanity. He seeks men like Gideon to deliver His children, like the disciples to build His kingdom. And there are the familiar (and vital) reminders of the dangers of wealth, of the worth…
Read More
It is no secret that my favorite hobby is reading. I devour books the way my husband enjoys a good steak. This summer, one of my book clubs decided to read A Canticle for Lebowitz. “A Canticle for Leibowitz is a post-apocalyptic social science fiction novel by American writer Walter…
Read More
During my undergraduate years in college, my honors thesis project was trying to prove the impossibility of holding an agnostic view on God’s existence. I did all right on it, despite my inexperience with academic philosophy jargon, but I think the most disappointing part about it for me was realizing…
Read More
“Let the children come to me!” Who says that? Maybe: A clown at a kids’ party? Santa Claus? Perhaps a Librarian at story time? Can you think of any more? Perhaps we can, or perhaps we don’t want to… Children require a lot of responsibility and work, and usually end…
Read More
Dear brothers and sisters, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). The Dogma of Assumption The Church teaches that “when the course of her earthly life was finished, Immaculate Virgin Mary was taken up body and soul into heavenly…
Read More