Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
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The following comes from a book entitled Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul,[1] published way back in 1997. I used to give this piece to my students. It’s called “The Mirror.” “Dr. Papaderos, what is the meaning of life?” The usual laughter followed and people stirred to go. Papaderos held
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A Homily for the Second Sunday of Advent, Year A Jesuit priest Father Mark Link tells this story: John was a contractor for a construction company. To increase his personal income, he routinely cheated on materials that went into the homes he built. He was so adept
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They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. –Matthew 2:11-12– In the formal dining room
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A Homily for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God, interpreting it so that all could understand what was read. Then Nehemiah, that is, His Excellency, and Ezra the priest-scribe and the Levites who were instructing the
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A Homily for the Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C We hear that some are conducting themselves among you in a disorderly way, by not keeping busy but minding the business of others. Such people we instruct and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and to
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A Reflection for Advent In her book Saint-Watching, poet Phyllis McGinley writes: When I was seven years old I wanted to be a tight-rope dancer and broke my collar bone practicing on a child’s-size high wire. At twelve I planned to become an international spy. At fifteen my
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I am the way, and the truth, and the life. –John 14:6– Asking for directions can be a futile undertaking. Recall, for example, the opening scene from the 1952 academy-award-winning movie The Quiet Man: Sean Thornton: “Could you tell me the way to Inisfree?” Train conductor: “Do
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As you may know, from the time of antiquity, the image of two oxen yoked to a cart or plow has been regarded by pagans, Jews, and Christians as a very apt image for marriage. That’s right. When our ancestors thought of the love between husband and wife, they quite
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Be still and know that I am God. —Psalm 46:11– Some time ago, I was walking down one of the hallowed hallways of Bethlehem Catholic High School. It was during second period, so as I went past each open classroom door, I could hear what the teacher therein was
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