The question ‘Who do you say I am?’ was correctly answered by Peter last week. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit he stated: You are the Christ. Jesus immediately orders them, and orders them strictly, not to tell anyone about him because another important question remains unanswered, ‘What is...
In many situations asking the right question is critically important… but coming up with the right question at the right time is an art. If a scientist doesn’t ask the right question he or she will follow paths that do not lead to solving a problem that confronts them. If...
We have a Gospel today that calls our attention – not just for the miracle, but the way Jesus accomplishes it. He heals a deaf man, but not by a simple word or touch. He takes the man apart from the crowd, places his finger in the ears, touches his...
Today’s readings prompt me to share some thoughts with you about choices, decisions, and commitments. Each and every day we consider choices presented to us, and then we make our decisions. There comes a moment when our consideration ends and we raise a choice to the level of our wills,...
In 2001 Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, published a small book entitled “God Is Near Us”. One of the chapters in that book is headed The Presence of the Lord in the Sacrament. It makes wonderful reading. He begins this chapter with the very text of the Gospel of today’s Mass: He...
Last week Jesus offered the people true bread, the bread of God, which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. They had responded enthusiastically: Sir … give us that bread always. Jesus’ reply was unexpected and challenging: I am the bread of life. He who comes to...
The event we read about in today’s Gospel, the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, is one of the most extraordinary miracles Jesus did during his earthly life. Even though we weren’t there 2000 years ago to be fed by the hands of the disciples, this miracle is also one...
Plans. All of us are familiar with plans. There are family plans, school plans, plans at work, travel plans, game plans, and all sorts of other plans. Our days are lived out in them. Even our fun times are planned… sometimes over-planned. Some people can’t stand plans. They want things...
We all know the light of the sun in the daytime, and of the moon in the night. We know the useful light of a torch, the revealing light of a spotlight. We know the lights blazing down on the football field and the comforting lights in the dark street...
Today I’d like to reflect a little on the role of the prophet who, arguably, has the most difficult of all vocations. There are two kinds of prophets; false prophets and true prophets. False prophets support and sustain people in their illusions about life and about themselves; they encourage self-deception....