The Potter and the Clay I: Formed in the Image of Love There is no doubt that God has made us to be a great masterpiece. We are works of his hands, lovingly made to be as precious as possible. “As clay in the hand of the potter — for all his ways are as he pleases — so men are in the hand of him who made them, to give them as he decides” (Sirach 33:13). Each person is... Read more
The following is from a priest friend’s Good Friday homily (he wishes to remain anonymous). I thought it was so good that I received his permission to publish an extended excerpt: (more…) Read more
My all time favorite poem for Easter. John Donne, Holy Sonnet #72 Death, be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so; For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow, Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me. From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be, Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow, And soonest our best men with thee do go, Rest of their bones,... Read more
The Easter Homily of St John Chrysostom If anyone is devout and a lover of God, let him enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival. If anyone is a wise servant, let him, rejoicing, enter into the joy of his Lord. If anyone has wearied himself in fasting, let him now receive his recompense. If anyone has labored from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving let him... Read more
Pope Benedict led the world’s Catholics into Easter on Saturday at a Vatican service where he baptized a Muslim-born convert who is one of Italy’s most famous and controversial journalists. The pope traditionally baptizes newborns on January 1 and adult converts to Catholicism on Easter eve. One of the seven adults he baptized on Saturday night was Magdi Allam, 55, an Egyptian-born journalist who, as deputy director of the leading newspaper Corriere della Sera, is one of Italy’s best-known intellectuals.... Read more
This article of the Apostle’s Creed is certainly by far the most controversial for many Christians, but why? At first, it is hard to believe that the Son of God who is sinless would descend into hell, which we understand it to be a place where there is only pain and suffering. As this can be a topic of deep theological discussions, I only attempt here to scratch the surface based on Joseph Ratzinger’s Introduction to Christianity and the Catechism... Read more
King, at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on Feb. 4, 1968: “God didn’t call America to engage in a senseless, unjust war. . . . And we are criminals in that war. We’ve committed more war crimes almost than any nation in the world, and I’m going to continue to say it. And we won’t stop it because of our pride and our arrogance as a nation. But God has a way of even putting nations in their place. And... Read more
Like many of you, I have relegated the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament to the backseat during this most Holy Triduum. Incidentally (and I hope not Providentially), my Aggies play UCLA tomorrow night while I will be at an Easter Vigil Mass. Yes, the climax of the Catholic Church’s liturgical year trumps even a projected Texas A&M upset of a #1 seed. I accidentally (and maybe Providentially) caught sight of today’s scores because a little shop at which Katerina and I... Read more
“And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull), they offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots; then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, ‘This is Jesus the King of the Jews.’... Read more
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