“Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.” Mt 5:19   What is your spiritual life rooted in? It could be a daily time of prayer, going to church, looking to the examples of men and women of faith before you, spiritual disciplines like fasting, what you... Read more

Have you ever been dealt a hand you didn’t want? Frances had desired to become a nun, but her family pushed her into the state of marriage instead. For many people, this would have caused resentment and pain, but for Frances, it just indicated that God was going to use her in a way she hadn’t expected. She remained happily married for many years and began to look at ways to live out her vocation in other ways that would... Read more

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. Mt 18:21-22   Are you competitive? I have to confess I am. There are few things I like more than winning. I regularly have to remind myself that there are some things in life where there doesn’t need to be a winner. In the... Read more

  Have you ever wanted God to simply show you his whole plan, but discovered God seems to be more interested in leading us step-by-step? João Duarte Cidade has a story like this. After an early life was marked by trauma, he spent his youth in search of adventure traveling, fighting and trying to make sense of his life. He eventually began to look for something more. He spent a season wondering looking for what God would have for him.... Read more

“Now the Arameans had captured in a raid on the land of Israel a little girl, who became the servant of Naaman’s wife. “If only my master would present himself to the prophet in Samaria,” she said to her mistress, “he would cure him of his leprosy”. Naaman went and told his lord just what the slave girl from the land of Israel had said.” 2 Kgs 5:3-4   Do you let your pain limit your love? The ancient world... Read more

How firmly is your identity rooted in your faith? It is said that the blood of the martyrs is is the seed of the Church. Throughout history men and women have suffered greatly for their faith. One of the earlier examples of this is recorded in the story of a young mother (Perpetua) and her pregnant servant (Felicity) who both heard the good news and were radically transformed by what they experience God was doing through Jesus and his Church.... Read more

“Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’” Jn 4:13-14 Have you ever received a gift that transformed your life? When I was living in Chicago I awoke one morning to discover that my car had been stolen. At the time I was working... Read more

“So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.” Lk 15:20   How have Jesus’ parables inspired you? I have found myself returning to the story of the prodigal son over and over again. I love the way that Jesus paints a picture of God’s mercy by teaching us that... Read more

Today the church remembers Saint Kieran. He was the first Irish-born saint. His spirituality was lived deeply connected to the physical world and to the Irish people. He found God’s presence in the natural world he inhabited and in the hearts of the people of Ireland. He discovered places where the fingerprints of God were imprinted and brought attention to the movements of grace that could be found there. His ministry helped open the hearts of the Irish people to hear... Read more

“Jesus said to them, ‘Did you never read the scriptures: The stone that builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes’?”  Mt 21:42   Have you ever rejected something initially only to embrace it later on? This is what happened when my wife and I were looking for our house. Our realtor took us to the house which is now our home the first time we went out... Read more