Shackles Make the Monster
In time for Halloween, this Sunday’s gospel reading (Lk 18:9-14) gives us the story of a man-made monster—as told by Jesus. This is the tale of a creature driven mad by the shackles placed on him by his worldly life.…
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Do we want the justice we deserve?
So, for the umpteenth time you drag yourself into your favorite prayer room seeking an answer about why God is withholding the relief you seek from life’s adversities. You pound your fist in frustration demanding “Why, Lord?” What if you…
Miracles in Tremont
One out of ten lepers was grateful to Jesus. That’s not a poll, but a reflection of the human condition taken from this Sunday’s gospel reading (Lk 17:11-19). Jesus was approached by ten lepers, begging him for pity and a…
Heaven knocking at your door
Anyone caring for an elderly parent at home should know the word “respite.” To know it is to love it. It is that temporary period of relief from doing one’s duty. There are people out there who offer respite for…
Avoid the downfall of the Might-Have-Dones
Between stories on American politics and international terrorism last week, Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, made world news by lifting someone up off his behind. It happened in Harlow, Essex, England where, during a meet-and-greet at Stewards Academy in…
Faith can’t die until it’s buried
If we could harness the brilliance of scammers who prey on the elderly this time of year, we might be able to cure cancer. It’s not enough that we must judge the reputation of people coming to our doors before…
Finding Infinity, Not Oblivion
For Baby Boomers turning 60 like me, a mirror can be their worst enemy. When we look into one, some of us see oblivion. A couple new books reviewed in last weekend’s Wall Street Journal were written by authors hitting…
Planning from Here for Eternity
The viral image of an injured Syrian boy, orphaned by war and sitting alone in an ambulance while still covered with the debris of destruction, haunts every soul who sees it. He should be crying, but he just stares. Is…
Investing Our Exaltation Allowance
We are taught as children the importance of honesty and decency, but those qualities are threatened when we learn to expect rewards for exercising them. That’s why we must avoid self-righteousness at all costs and learn the art of self-examination.…
Relief from lukewarm torture
If you’ve visited or occupied a hospital room in recent years you’ve seen the smiley face pain scale. This is a tool doctors use to determine your level of discomfort. It goes from a smiley face 0 (no pain) to…