The poem below was inspired by “Try Something Different” by Price Pritchett, a story that appeared in the original Chicken Soup for the Soul. True freedom does not mean doing what I want, but freely choosing to obey the will of Christ, Who is the Door to freedom itself (John
Read moreBetter than New
In the 1996 movie The Preacher’s Wife, Denzel Washington plays the role of an angel named Dudley. One scene is a particular favorite of mine. A little boy, unaware that he is speaking to an angel, asks Dudley to fix a broken toy ambulance. Dudley takes the little vehicle, turns
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And wherever he [Jesus] went, into village or hamlet or town, they laid the sick in the market places, and entreated him to let them touch but the tassel of his cloak; and as many as touched him were saved. –Mark 6:56– Years ago, my friend Mary gave me
Read moreAll that Glitters Is Not God: Another Look at the Sacrifice of Abraham
I am a great fan of good children’s literature. One of my favorite books for young people is The Adventures of King Midas by the British author Lynne Reid Banks. Banks got a lot more notoriety for having written The Indian in the Cupboard
Read moreEver So Gradually
Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and through it all the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how.
Read moreThe Holy Bible: More Precious than Diamonds
When I found your words, I devoured them: they became my joy and the happiness of my heart, because I bore your name, O Lord, God of hosts. –Jeremiah 15:16– For the word of God is a light to the mind and a fire to the will. It enables man
Read moreH.M.S. Incarnation
For he [i.e. Christ] assumed at his first coming the lowliness of human flesh, and so fulfilled the design you formed long ago, and opened for us the way to eternal salvation…. –Preface I of Advent– Have you ever wondered how craftsmen are able to put model ships inside
Read moreGoing to the Dogs
For the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants Notre Dame of Bethlehem Church Bethlehem, PA 9 July 2011 You are of more value than many sparrows –Matthew 10:31– In his book Marley & Me, John Grogan admits that, even though he was raised a Catholic, he and his new bride
Read moreThis Will Fix Your Wagon!
Some years ago, I met a five-year-old girl named Mary who had just, only a few days earlier, been presented with a brand new red toy wagon. She never tired of giving her dog Sheppy rides in it. Little Mary smiled at me and whispered: “You know what? I
Read moreStewards of the Sacred
Homily for the First Mass of Father David Matthew Anthony Notre Dame of Bethlehem Church, Bethlehem Pennsylvania 5 June 2016 Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Now it is of course required of
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