Christmas in Jail
A Strange Place to Find Peace on Earth
When the Mexican teenager walked into the county jail, he was understandably nervous. The nineteen-year-old, baby-faced Hispanic youth had never been in jail before and he had no idea what to expect. Continue »
Simple Staircase
Isaiah 30:21
When you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." —Isaiah 30:21. Continue »
Forty-five Years and Counting
The Importance of the Second Vatican Council
Forty-five years is a long time in a person's life, but not necessarily in the life of the church. Consider, for example, that it took well over a century for the reforms of the Council of Trent to take hold. Continue »
If a Brother Has Nothing to Wear
UNESCO International Day for Tolerance
If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. (James 2:15-17) Continue »
Dedication of the St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome
Everything will live where the river goes. (Ezekiel 47:9)
Today we celebrate the Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran. This building is the oldest and ranks the first among the four great basilicas in Rome (along with St. Peter's, St. Paul's, and St. Mary Major). It was donated to the church by the Emperor Constantine in 311, and since then it has been revered as the mother church of cathedrals everywhere. Continue »
The Lost Sheep
Ezekiel 34:11-12, 16
The prophet Ezekiel pictured Yahweh as a shepherd caring for Israel, his scattered flock: "For thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out." Continue »
Walking Hopefully in the Shadow of Death
Jesus is always with us—especially as we face our final days.
Cathy, a woman in her early sixties, found out six months ago that she was dying of cancer. Cathy had always seemed very confident and determined to live life to the fullest. But both she and her husband Rick fear that her confidence and strong will may not be enough to help her withstand the inevitable. Continue »
Be Strong in the Lord
Why did Paul talk about the spiritual life as a battle?
"Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:10-12) Continue »
Matthew 22:15-22: Performing Christian Political Service
Excerpt from "Matthew: A Catholic Guide for Personal Study and Faith Sharing"
Jesus said, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's" (Matthew 22:21). All citizens of the empire owed their allegiance to the emperor, but Jesus points out the supreme importance of allegiance to God, for "there is no authority except from God" (Romans 13:1). Continue »
Scripture: A Conversation With God
An excerpt from "Matthew: A Devotional Commentary"
In the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks with them. (Vatican II: Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, 21) Continue »