Paul’s distress over the state of the Galatians is evident in these impassioned words. However, while Paul had become exasperated with the Galatians, he did not walk away from them. More »

I remember well the years immediately after the Second Vatican Council. The second half of the 1960s was an interesting time to be a Catholic—to say the least. One never knew what to expect next. More »

He stands on a sun-bleached dune, his tangled hair blowing in the wind and his dark eyes bearing an intense, faraway look. His hand grips a well-worn staff, and his sheepskin cloak clings to his gaunt frame. More »

It’s probably the busiest intersection in the city. Fashionable shops line the sidewalks as well-dressed men and women walk briskly by. The sound of traffic fills the air, mingling with the chatter of pedestrians and the occasional car radio blaring loud music through open windows. Another lunch hour has begun. More »

Every year on August 6, the church celebrates one of the most dramatic moments in the gospel, when Jesus' first followers are given a glimpse of his heavenly glory. Peter, James, and John have climbed a high mountain with their Master, when he is suddenly transfigured before their eyes. His face and clothing blaze with light; Moses and Elijah appear and begin speaking with him; and the Father's voice rings out a message of love and a command to listen (Matthew 17:1-9). More »

As I was growing up, my family could have said, with the disciples of John the Baptist whom Paul discovered at Ephesus, “We haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit” (Acts 19:2). But we were spared a total aridity because we knew someone who, without our realizing it, was filtering the Holy Spirit to us. It was Mary. Somehow in this woman we were given some inkling of who or what the Holy Spirit is. More »

Try to imagine the paradox: The cross, an instrument of extreme cruelty and disgrace, has become God's instrument of triumph and glory. With the battle over sin and death accomplished, Jesus now sits exalted in glory at the right hand of the Father. More »

Have you ever tried to clean a sidewalk, a driveway, or a concrete patio? Of course, scrubbing and scrubbing with hot water will wipe away some of the dirt, but if you want to restore it to its original whiteness, you need something more. In many cases, a good dose of bleach will do a fine job—and often with far less labor on your part. All you have to do is pour out the cleaning solution and spray it with a blast of water. Then, almost miraculously, the dirt rolls right off, and the concrete is as good as new. More »