The gospel account we just heard is famous, one with which we are all familiar. It tells the well-known story of the sinner who sat in the back of the Temple beating his breast while seeking mercy and the Pharisee who sat up in front reminding God what a laudable...
Jesus said, “Be like those who are waiting for their master to return.” [Lk. 12:36] In this command, we find the beautiful virtues of faith and patience. In the past there was a city in United States where at one time, ten percent of working fathers were truck drivers. Those...
Last week, when Jesus came to visit Martha and Mary, Martha made a choice; she went to the kitchen. Mary, too, made a choice: She sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking. Jesus pointed out to Martha that Mary had made the ‘better choice’. Martha set...
What a delightful story from the book of Genesis today; so simple and yet so profound! Abraham is sitting at the entrance of his tent; it’s hot, the hottest part of the day. He looks up and sees three men standing nearby. In America we would expect him to give...
It’s hard to believe this story is two thousand years old. And, every time you hear it or read it, it seems fresh again. I think one of the things that we fail to remember when we study the gospel of Luke, he is a wonderful storyteller and he just...
A guard in charge of a lighthouse along a dangerous coast was given enough oil for one month and told to keep the light burning every night. One day a woman asked for oil so that her children could stay warm. Then a farmer came. His son needed oil for...
Today, we are celebrating the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. This special Feast is celebrated in remembrance of Jesus who gave His life for our salvation. It is a Feast in remembrance of Jesus’ command to us to celebrate the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. During His...
Anthony de Mello tells the story of a Chinese boy who wanted to become a carver of jade. He was apprenticed to a master craftsman and could hardly sleep the night before his first day with the master. When he arrived for work he greeted the master and sat down...
Today we end the Easter season. The Easter candle which has been burning since Easter to remind us of the light that has come into the world, will be set aside and used only of there is a baptism or funeral. Next week we continue what is called “Ordinary Time’...
All of us have had to face moments of departure and loss. Was it when we were desperately in love and then the one we loved left us? Was it when we graduated from school and then suffered separation from our dear friends? Was it when a spouse or a...