Have you ever worried that you missed what God had planned for your life somehow? In today’s reading, we hear the voice of God coming to Jonah a second time. I love this. Sometimes I worry that God’s call on my life has an expiration date. I worry that God had something in mind for me, but that I missed it. I worry that my mistakes have kept the will of God for my life from coming to fruition. This... Read more

Loving your enemies is hard. Yet, it seems to be an essential part of living the kind of Gospel Life God calls us to. Today the church honors one of its earliest Saints, and martyrs – Polycarp. Polycarp was an early leader in the church. He was one of the men who transmitted the faith to the next generation after the death of the Apostles. He wrote exhorting the men and women of the church to live a life of... Read more

“If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” Matthew 6:14-15 A person once compared unforgiveness in our hearts to a harpoon used to hunt for fish.  A harpoon is used to ensure that when a creature is wounded that it can’t get away. The creature remains attached to the hunter. It’s an effective metaphor because it translates well to what happens to people... Read more

Jesus sent his apostles on a mission that was impossible to accomplish alone. He sent them to proclaim the gospel to the whole world and in every generation. (Matthew 24:14) The Church is a collection of diverse and particular faith communities that are all in union in one Body – all people could find a place, and no group was excluded. Every culture could bring their own encounters with God and use them to help the Church see the mystery of the incarnation... Read more

“And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18   I’ve noticed is a dangerous image of the church among many Christians. It is an image that focuses on the church as a defensive tool that will guard and protect those within from invading forces that seek to erode it.  It’s a view of the church as a reactive and defensive... Read more

“The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.” Mk 1:12-13   I hate temptation. Life would be so much easier without it. I would love it if my kids never behaved in a way that tempted me to yell at them. I would love it if I always felt fulfilled with all I had and never got... Read more

  After the tragic early death of his parents, Saint Peter Damian began his life caring for pigs. I find this interesting because for the rest of his life Saint Peter Damian didn’t seem to mind getting messy. He rejected the path to fame and wealth and even forsook more comfortable accommodations as a monk in order to live the life he believed God had called him to. He was not a quiet monk. He had no problem confronting corruption and... Read more

I lived in Maryland for a few years when I was working on my doctoral degree. My family and I rented a small house just outside of Washington D.C. It was a lovely home with a big yard where my sons would play and I would garden. The soil was really rich. I’ve never grown so many tomatoes so easily! One unfortunate thing about the great growing conditions was the bamboo. We had a bamboo infestation in the back corner... Read more

“Is this not, rather, the fast that I choose: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs from the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking off every yoke? Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry, bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own flesh?” Is 58:6-7 One of the historical pillars of Lenten practice is fasting. People take time throughout Lent to abstain... Read more

  Sometimes the mystery of God can be seen in our everyday surroundings. This is the lesson that  Alvarez of Córdoba continues to teach millions of Christians each Lent. He is honored by the church today, and his most lasting legacy is the promotion of the Way of the Cross. He brought the devotional into the gardens, where he could place images to assist people in following the stations of Jesus’ journey to crucifixion. It created a way for normal Christians to... Read more