When some of us think about religion, laws and regulations can intrude—making it easier to lose faith than gain it. Gaining faith is simplicity itself. It’s why Jesus loved children so much—because they don’t burden themselves with legalistic baggage. The children of his time saw he was the same way as they, and they approached […]
All branches of the military have used P.R. to attract recruits. “Join the Army and See the World” and “Be All that You Can Be” might be the most famous. At times, the realities of 20th century war and sacrifice overshadowed slogans and people were either drafted to fill a dire need or enticed with […]
Before attending Easter Sunday services a few weeks ago, Sri Lanka was probably not on the mental maps of many American Christians. That changed after a series of terrorist suicide bombings killed hundreds of people of many faiths and nationalities at various places on that South Asian island. Many were fellow worshippers at Easter Sunday […]
The scriptures show that some of Jesus’s followers—both friends and enemies—could recognize him anywhere. That is evident in this Sunday’s readings, especially among those categorizing themselves in the latter camp—the ones who followed him to death. As the Gospel of John tells us (Jn 21:1-19), his best friends—his disciples—didn’t even recognize the presence of the […]
Edward R. Murrow, the legendary journalist who rose to fame during World War II, is credited for saying, “Anyone who isn’t confused doesn’t really understand the situation.” He also called his era of humanity “an age of confusion.” “Opinions can be picked up cheap in the market place while such commodities as courage and fortitude […]
As Easter Sunday approaches, many of us yearn for some of the dramatic miracles we read about in the scriptures. Our real problem is we tend to ignore the quiet miracles that happen to us every day—some that we help make happen. The simple act of forgiving someone can change their life miraculously. Jesus’ forgiveness […]
Even the most secular cultures worship idols. We’re passionate about celebrities and celebrity—as well as the accompanying wealth and fame. Most of us idolize from a distance, but if we get close enough for long enough, our idols sometimes lose their appeal. There’s some truth to the saying, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” It’s a human flaw. […]
New methods and practices designed to save lives can cost them if the people entrusted with those lives stay locked into their old ways. That’s as true today as it was when this Sunday’s Mass readings were written. And as applicable. Case in point: More than 300 lives were lost in two recent crashes of […]
Older readers might remember a guy named Paul Harvey. He became best known for his “The Rest of the Story” radio features reporting the unsung outcomes of often-told stories. Sunday’s gospel reading includes the Prodigal Son parable, which ends famously with a father happily welcoming his ne’er-do-well son back home after that son squandered […]
Folksinger Woody Guthrie wrote a song that could be a hymn in all Churches this Sunday: Holy Ground. It was inspired by our first reading (Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15), where Moses encounters the burning-but-not-burned bush sprouting from a sacred desert mountain. He hears God’s voice tell him to remove his sandals because he’s entering holy ground. […]