This Sunday’s mass readings seem hand-selected for Father’s Day. The first from the Book of Job (Jb 38:1, 8-11), reminded me of the classic Dad line: “I brought you into this world, I can take you out!”—except God says something…
There was a lot of talk about the “God particle” last year. This was the nickname given the subatomic particle formally named the Higgs boson. Scientists say this particle gives mass to matter. Scientists with faith the size of a…
We’re on our second contract with God, and if I were Him I’d have sued us a long time ago. Humanity isn’t much better at living up to the terms of this second one as we were with the first.…
This is Pentecost Sunday. Yes, I know last week was the official feast, but every mass is designed to be a Pentecost of its own, where the Holy Spirit comes down on everyone and prepares them to go out and…
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed. Amazing Grace is a great hymn any time of the year, but it has a special…
It’s interesting how prominent rolls of the dice were in the events of Easter. One of these happened at Christ’s crucifixion, when the Roman soldiers cast lots to determine who would get Jesus’ garments. They didn’t want to divide his…
It’s amazing how much hate love has inspired over the last 2000 years of Christianity. Our readings this Sunday reflect some of that. While they all send the message “God is love,” as Jesus says in our gospel reading (Jn…
I recently heard a businessman speaking about his least favorite scripture passages. First was Jesus’ story about the vineyard owner recruiting workers throughout the course of a day (Matthew 20:1–16 ). He didn’t like the ending, with those hired toward…
Jesus calls us sheep in this Sunday’s gospel reading (Jn 10:11-18). From anybody else this would be an insult, but it actually says more about him and his role as our shepherd than about us being among the dumbest animals…
On the first few Sundays after Easter Sunday we are treated to a variety of cases of mistaken identity. Jesus appears to various people after returning from the dead and nobody recognizes him—at least right away. As holy as these…