The Battle of Anger in God’s Prophets
We recently read a passage from the Book of the Jeremiah in daily Mass (Wednesday of the 17th Week of the Year) that provides an important teaching on righteous anger and the need for meekness. Meekness is the virtue that moderates anger; it is a form of temperance that controls resentment. The biblical prophets were […]
The Experience of Conscience
In my online class on the Catechism (for the Institute of Catholic Culture), we recently discussed conscience. Many today confuse conscience with their opinion or what they “feel” is right or wrong. However, the Catechism has this to say: Conscience is a judgment of reason whereby the human person recognizes the moral quality of a […]
An Important Question for the Secular World: Why?
One of the more common misunderstandings of the modern age—we might even call it a delusion— is confusing explanation with meaning. Using the scientific method and other empirical techniques, we have been able to explain many of the processes and mechanics of the natural world. To give explanation, however, is not the same as to […]
Love and Lament Alike – A Brief Reflection for All Who Care About the Church
As a priest and pastor I work very closely with others: clergy, religious, laity who work for the Church, and laity who volunteer. We all work for the Church because we love her and her people. At times, though, there is disappointment, hurt, or even disillusionment. Perhaps these feelings result from issues in the wider […]
Of Plenty, Population, and Trust – A Further Reflection on the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes
The multiplication of the loaves and fishes that we read about at Sunday Mass was a miracle so astonishing that it is recounted in all four Gospels. A second, similar instance is recorded in another gospel passage. So, this sort of miracle is recounted five times within the four Gospels. There are many theological reasons […]
What Are Your Five Loaves and Two Fishes? A Homily for the 17th Sunday of the Year
We have in this Sunday’s Gospel the very familiar miracle of the loaves and the fishes. One is tempted to say, “Oh, that one …” and then tune out, but it contains a personal appeal directly from the Lord’s lips to our ears: “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” Immediately, objections […]
The Stain of Sin, as Seen in an Advertisement
The video below, an ad for a carpet cleaning product, is masterfully done and has a surprise ending. In the ad, the horror caused by the carpet stain is palpable. I’d like to relate this mere carpet stain to the growing and ominous stain that represents evil. This stain (macula in Latin) should cause us […]
The Paschal Mystery Writ Personally and Writ Large
For the Feast of St. James on Wednesday, the first reading was from the Second Letter to the Corinthians. In it, St. Paul speaks of the Christian life on two levels: the individual and the Church. Let’s look at each. Level One: The Individual Many times every day we are asked, “How are you?” We […]
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