News - February 2022 RSS Feed

"This Too Shall Pass" - What must I do to have a longer, healthier life? What must I do to assure my comfort and security? What must I do to be sure of enough resources for a comfortable retirement? We can’t deny the importance of these concerns.

“Those Who Can Accept This, Should Accept It” - The long and the short of it seems to be that Jesus clearly forbade divorce and remarriage. The only possible alternative, the one the Church uses today, is to determine that there never was a valid marriage in the first place due to various situations that are judged to have invalidated it from the beginning.

"A Lenten Coming Attraction" - How delightful these days to enter Loyola for weekday Mass and often find the entryway filled with sneakers -- a Covid-in-the-rearview-mirror sign of hope as the Jesuit high school retreat groups with all their energy and Frisbee throwing and earnest searching are welcomed to the House once again.

Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time - “I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord.” (John 14:6) - As Jesus continues his ministry of healing, he focuses on those with physical infirmities because they are suffering.  The apostles follow and try to imitate Jesus.

Today’s feast and gospel passage focus our attention on the primary role that Peter played among the leaders of the early Church and Jesus passing on the mantel of authority to Peter - “on this rock I will build my church …. I will entrust to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you declare bound on earth….”

"Mystery But Not Magic" - We mortal humans can only cooperate with the power of God doing good in our world if we realize that we are dependent on God and that we demonstrate that by honest and sincere prayer.

“Go and Do the Same” - The Letter of James is most absolutely correct, however, in asserting that if we believe in Jesus as the Messiah who died for our sins, as the Son of God and the Word made flesh, but never do anything in response to that belief, then of what value is our faith?

“You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” (Mark 8:33) - How has your thinking been these days? It is very easy to get lost in our own thoughts. Many people can ruminate over a particular thought, usually something negative or stressful, for hours or even days, weeks and months.

“Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village.” (Mark 8:23) - Jesus’ role as the Servant of all unfolds slowly.

“Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees… and the yeast of Herod.” - In such moments, I find Jesus in today’s exchange with his apostles offering us a healthy perspective: stepping back and looking at the larger picture.

"Signs for Nonbelievers" - The fact that people still to this day look for the more spectacular sign – for example the face of Jesus appearing on a refrigerator door, a statue weeping, etc. – suggests a strong moral point.

"Ephphatha! Be Opened!" - What makes today’s passage very different from the other two that share the detail of anointing with the Lord’s spittle, is Jesus looking up to heaven and emitting a “deep sigh” (or groan, in our translation) and saying the Aramaic word Ephphatha...

"Outward Bound" - Questions for pondering and prayer as we marvel at this expression of Jesus' humanity: Where are the borderlands in our own ongoing maturing in the life of faith? Where is the growing edge of our identity as Beloved? What do we know now in a deeper way than we knew before?

“King Solomon explained everything she asked about, and there remained nothing hidden from him that he could not explain to her." - Obviously, this queen from Sheba gives of her largesse to Solomon. However, what draws the queen to Solomon is not his wealth but the reputation of his wisdom.

“This people honors me only with lip service, while their hearts are far from me.” - Lip service vs the heart. Does this not say it all? How easy it is to “talk the talk” (Love God with all your heart….. Love your neighbor as yourself) but not to “walk the walk”.

"The Needs of Others" - We Christians believe that the power to give generously and compassionately comes from Christ living in us and our living in Christ.

"And They Did with Him As They Pleased" - Total integrity, complete commitment to truth and justice, and absolute obedience to God’s will, always demands a price.

Thursday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time - "To be holy is to be whole." - Now the Twelve, the foundation of the Church, are being sent out to do exactly the same work that Jesus has been doing.

"Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.” (Luke 2) - After hearing Simeon’s words, Mary and Joseph must have prayed and talked about this message for their daily lives. We don’t know.

“Little Girl, Get Up.” - And so will our faith also be vindicated. But perhaps not when nor how we want it to be. TRUST. ... So much of our faith journey asks us to trust. We wish very much that it was otherwise. We much prefer to know. And to always receive what we ask for when we ask for it.