The Church crowns the liturgical year with the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Last week we hear how the king will return in "great power and glory." This week we see that king standing meek and alone in front of a backwater provincial governor who doesn't even understand why he's worth the trouble. It's clear…
We're nearly at the end of the Church's liturgical year, and our readings remind us that our world and time itself will come to completion. Some of us have been raised to think of the end times with apprehension - a darkened sun, stars falling from the sky. But there is dazzling beauty too, as Jesus comes in the clouds…
In a very real sense, living up to the demands of family life requires us to give all that we have, our whole livelihood. There's no holding back your heart. Healthy families are generous in sharing love and affection among all their members, and part of our joy in life is seeing how the little acts of kindness and sacrifices…
How do we know were on the right track to heaven? Jesus offers some clear guidelines in today's Gospel, as an examination of conscience, they're both simple and far reaching. What does loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength look like in family life? Can we honestly say that our neighbors -- the people who literally live…
Our hearts go out when we see others go through struggles. A toddler who is heartbroken over something as simple as a crumbled cookie. A student, maybe a friend, who didn't get picked on the team they wanted to be on. A classmate who finds themselves unwanted because they broke rules that no one told them about. Whenever we see…
What are your images of authority? How have they been shaped by the way your parents raised you? Speaking to his apostles (who should know better, but nevertheless are trying to elbow their way into positions of power and prestige) Jesus negatively describes a type of authority that "lord(s) it over" others and makes itself "felt." How familiar that image…
I feel for the young man who, sincerely looking to Jesus as he seeks eternal life, points out that he's followed the rules. Although he's done everything he's been told he needs to do, he has an inkling that there's still something more required of him. Yet Jesus' answer - to give more of himself than the minimum, to let…
In this well-known Gospel passage, Jesus is clear about children’s dignity and how they belong in the kingdom of God. In fact, they don’t just belong in the kingdom: the kingdom, Jesus says belongs to them. It is hard to go to Mass as a family and integrate faith into daily life, especially with little children. If we’re honest, we may…
Jesus' warning about the millstone is one of the most sobering Gospel passages to read. The way we treat others, react to situations, and approach our daily tasks lays down a model that others will remember, for better or for worse. Jesus is clear: if any of our habits our tendencies leads us or others - especially the "little ones"…
