Blog of the Archdiocese of Washington
Today’s Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is a moment to reflect not only on the Lord’s Baptism but on our own. In an extended sense, when Christ is baptized, so are we, for we are members of His Body. As Christ enters the water, He makes holy the water that will baptize us. …
Continue reading “The Bountiful Blessings of Baptism—A Homily for the Baptism of the Lord”
Every now and then, someone will come to me to request parish services of some sort. Maybe it’s to plan a wedding, a baptism, or a funeral; maybe it’s for money! Sometimes, not recognizing the person, I look at him or her and say, “Who are you?” “Well, Father, you don’t know me, but my …
Continue reading “What Does Jesus Mean When He Says to Some, “I Do Not Know You”?”
I open our New Year’s Eve late night Mass (11:15 PM) with the observation that we begin Mass in one year and end in the next. New Year’s Eve highlights the mysterious passage between years. In a way I suppose it is no more mysterious than the passage from Thursday to Friday or from 10:00 …
It is not difficult to demonstrate that most of our modern problems center around marriage, sexuality, and the family. In our thinking and our behavior in these three fundamental areas, we have departed significantly from the teachings of God and from common sense. Today’s Feast of the Holy Family provides a rich tapestry of Scripture …
This is the thirteenth and final installment in a series on the Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell. The teachings of the Lord on Hell are difficult, especially in today’s climate. The most difficult questions that arise relate to its eternal nature and how to square its existence with a God who is loving …
Continue reading “Why Hell is Eternal and Other Teachings on Hell”
This is the twelfth in a series of articles on the Four Last Things: death, judgment, Heaven, and Hell. Part of what makes Jesus’ teaching on Hell difficult is the severe imagery He uses. In pointing to Hell, he seems to point to its deepest pits. He warns of eternal fire, undying worms, and wailing …
It’s one of the stranger dialogues that occurs in the Gospel. We read it last week in daily Mass and it is difficult not to rejoice in Jesus’ aplomb. Some Pharisees, likely disingenuous in their motives, approach Jesus and warn Him to leave immediately: Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you. …
Continue reading “A Word of Encouragement in One of Jesus’ Stranger Sayings”
In the first reading for Tuesday of this week, St. Paul speaks of the longing of creation to be set free. He almost personifies creation: For indeed, creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the …
Continue reading “On the Longing of Creation To Be Set Free”