“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, that those who enter may see the light” (Lk. 8:16 RSV). The stand might be dirty, the stand might have blemishes, the stand might have all kinds of problems: but the light it shines is true light, and those who come into that light share the benefits of that light. This is how we might want to... Read more
When Jesus went to Sychar, a Samaritan city, he encountered the Samaritan woman, traditionally named St. Photina, near Jacob’s well: There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered... Read more
The war of words between Iran and the United States threatens the safety and security, not only of the people of Iran and the United States, but of the world as a whole. The threat of war is real, and it appears that the Trump administration is following the bellicose disposition of John Bolton (as Bolton seems interested in justifying a new war in the Middle East).  While we are not there yet, and Mike Pompeo has said that the... Read more
Many fans of J.R.R. Tolkien like to use his works to promote war. Others, likewise, like to use his works as a defense of racism. The first group suggests that the works of Tolkien are filled with war, showing the good which can come out of it, forgetting, however, the ultimate solution for Tolkien was not war, and the embrace of power which is required in war to be a “victor,” but the destruction of the Ring, and the rejection... Read more
The incomprehensible God has revealed himself to us. There are many ways in which this can be said to be true. We could talk about the divine energies, and the way we come to know God in and through his works; by following this route, it can be said that we know God, not face to face, but rather, by receiving a glimpse of his glory from his back (cf. Ex. 33:18-23). Likewise, God reveals himself through the incarnation, and... Read more
In the Byzantine tradition, the Fourth Sunday of Pascha commemorates the Sunday of the Paralytic. On it we remember when Jesus healed a paralytic man at the Sheep Gate pool. When we reflect upon the story, not only are there moral lessons to be learned, it also can be seen as a representation of how Jesus comes and heals us from our own spiritual infirmity. In the Gospel story, we are told of the pool of Bethzatha in which an... Read more
In a speech, Donald Trump, the so-called “pro-life” President, made it clear how far he is from being a promoter of life. As indicated and filmed by many sources, Trump had no problem laughing and making jokes about people shooting would-be immigrants at the border.  Morgan Gstalter, writing for the Hill, shows how Trump and his supporters have no concern for human life: “And don’t forget, we don’t let them and we can’t let them use weapons,” Trump said of... Read more
In the fifteenth century, Pope Eugene IV faced many similar complaints and criticisms of the Pope that Pope Francis receives today.  Nicholas of Cusa was known as the “Heracles of the Eugenists” because of the effort he went to defend Pope Eugene IV from these accusations, working, as he could, to repair any schism that came as a result of the bad faith of Eugene’s critics. Nicholas faced many groups criticizing Catholic practices and doctrines of his day as being... Read more
Great disaster, apocalyptic disaster, threatens the earth. We have done much to change the world around us. Science and technology have given us many great powers, making us capable of doing great wonders. But we have ignored the dark underbelly of our technological achievements. We have long thought we can put off to another day the troubles which we create today. We should have known we could not put them off forever. We should have known that one day the... Read more
Naïve piety and superstition both cause great confusion concerning the eucharist, as we find those who follow one or the other, or both, think they can actually harm the body of Christ. Eucharistic sacrilege, the intentional dishonoring of Christ, does not harm Christ himself, but the person committing the abuse.  On the other hand, when something accidental happens to the eucharistic bread, such as when it crumbles and someone steps on the crumbs, what Hugh of St. Victor said applies:... Read more
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