Blog of the Archdiocese of Washington
We live in an age of often strident secularism. If a religious utterance is made by a government official (or it would seem, even a First Lady) a loud cry goes up from an increasingly hostile minority. The platitude about “Separation of Church and State” is usually bandied about, a phrase that does not even …
In the Gospel today the Lord describes metaphorically what a Christian is and what He expects of us. Note five things about what God says: I The Definitiveness of His Proclamation – The text says, You are the Salt of the earth. … You are the light of the World. … But if salt goes …
Continue reading “Pass the Salt and Put on the Light – A Homily for the 5th Sunday of the Year”
Last week at daily Mass (Thursday of the First Week of the Year) we read from the Letter to the Hebrews. In it was an important admonition, especially appropriate for our times: Encourage yourselves daily while it is still today, so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin (Heb 3:12). …
Continue reading “The Hardening of Hearts Caused by the Deceit of Sin”
In the weekday Masses following the Christmas octave we celebrate the Word becoming flesh. We read from the First Letter of John, which emphasizes the Incarnation of Jesus and demands that we experience the Word becoming Flesh in a practical way in our own lives. Fundamentally, the Incarnation, the Second Person of the Trinity becoming …
As we approach the Christmas feasts, it is good for us to ponder aspects of the Incarnation. In this article, I would like to consider what St. Thomas Aquinas teaches about the fittingness of the Incarnation. God was not radically “required” to do everything as He did. We do well to ponder why the manner …
The commercial below is a good illustration of a description of reality supplied by St. Paul. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against …
Continue reading “A Glimpse of Our Common Enemy, As Seen in a Commercial”
Today’s Gospel features a strange dialog; it is hard not to rejoice in Jesus’ aplomb. In it, some Pharisees (likely disingenuous) approach Jesus, warning Him to leave immediately: Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you. Probably more for their benefit than for Herod’s, Jesus responds, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, …
Continue reading “Encouragement from Jesus in the Face of Worldly Threats”
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 …