To Teach as Jesus Taught – A Reflection on the Qualities of Jesus as Preacher and Teacher

As a priest, I am called to preach and teach. As such, I must look to Jesus Christ as my model. In this, I refer to the real Jesus of Scripture. Too many people today have refashioned Jesus into a sort of “harmless hippie,” an affable affirmer, a pleasant sort of fellow who healed the …

How Can a Demon, Driven Out, Return with Seven More? A Meditation on a Puzzling Parable

The Gospel for Friday of this week (27th Week of the Year) features the puzzling parable about the cast-out demon who returns with seven others. What is most puzzling, is that finding the house (soul) “swept and clean” brings further trouble. One would think that a house that is swept and clean would be a good thing! For …