Theologian Thomas Merton wrote, “Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real.” But some biblical accounts make it seem like pride and humility are two sides of the same coin. In fact, pride often seems to be humanity’s birthright. That may explain why the prophets and Jesus continuously remind us to be humble. The […]
(For the audio version of this blog, please visit: http://brothersinchristcmf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Mass-Blog-for-the-21st-Sunday-in-Ordinary-Time-2022-1.mp3) God’s will is unstoppable. Even atheists recognize this. It’s why our legal system has something called an “Act of God defense,” when nature’s unpredictability causes hardships nobody could have foreseen or prevented. Life happens, in other words, and we must learn to live it. Nevertheless, […]
(For the audio version of this blog, please visit: http://brothersinchristcmf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Mass-Blog-for-the-20th-Sunday-in-Ordinary-Time-2022.mp3) There’s as much mudslinging in the Bible as there is in our own modern lives. This is the art of insult and accusation, especially of the unjust variety. The aim is to damage the reputation of an opponent. It’s summarized in ancient Latin: ‘Fortiter calumniari, […]
(For the audio version of this blog, please visit: http://brothersinchristcmf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Mass-Blog-for-the-19th-Sunday-in-Ordinary-Time-2022.mp3) Religious leaders of all faiths have one thing in common. Their faith. Supplies of this precious asset may vary, but an abundance has led the faithful throughout history to do strange things—from painting their doorposts with sacrificial lamb’s blood so the angel of death would […]
(For the audio version of this blog, please visit: http://brothersinchristcmf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Mass-Blog-for-the-18th-Sunday-in-Ordinary-Time-2022.mp3) For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heartwith which he has labored under the sun?All his days sorrow and grief are his occupation;even at night his mind is not at rest.This also is vanity. (Ecc 1:2; 2:21-23) If you […]
(For the audio version of this blog, please visit: http://brothersinchristcmf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Mass-Blog-for-the-17th-Sunday-in-Ordinary-Time-2022.mp3) This Sunday’s Mass is all about forgiveness. We are called to be as persistent in offering it as we are in asking for it. It’s a family trait—if you count God’s Kingdom as your family. The world’s been through a lot with the family of […]
(For the audio version of this blog, please visit: http://brothersinchristcmf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Mass-Blog-for-the-16th-Sunday-in-Ordinary-Time-2022.mp3) “Life is a journey, not a destination.” That bit of wisdom has been credited to Ralph Waldo Emerson, but what he actually wrote in a series of essays was: “To finish the moment, to find the journey’s end in every step of the road, to […]
(For the audio version of this blog, please visit: http://brothersinchristcmf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mass-Blog-for-the-15th-Sunday-in-Ordinary-Time-2022.mp3) Where is God? Up in the sky? If so, he’s out of our reach. What is God? A scary old guy who punishes and rewards? If so, we’re out of God’s reach. Either way, stereotypes of God separate us from true divinity. True divinity can […]
(For the audio version of this blog, please visit: http://brothersinchristcmf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mass-Blog-for-the-14th-Sunday-in-Ordinary-Time-2022.mp3) As Jesus prepared his disciples to spread the spirit of the gospel in a physical world, he had to teach them to think differently. Scientists might characterize this as using a different part of the brain to master a goal. Connecting with one’s own spiritual […]
(For the audio version of this blog, please visit: http://brothersinchristcmf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mass-Blog-for-the-13th-Sunday-in-Ordinary-Time-2022.mp3) What do you call a caged animal that starts liking its confinement? If you’re a fan of classic TV sitcoms, you might call him Otis. He was the town drunk in the old Andy Griffith Show who made Sheriff Andy’s jail cell his second home. […]