On the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, Father Anthony Raso reflects on how he answered the question of “Who God is” through three periods of his life – and the answer he ultimately reached.
Sunday Scriptures
Unlikely Apostles, Then and Now
WHEN I WAS in the seminary, it was stressed to us in the most definite terms that if you wanted to be able to function in the Diocese of Brooklyn as a priest in the last quarter of the 20th century and beyond, you had to learn another language. Classes would be given in Spanish and Italian, so take one, and this means you.
Just Swing From Your Heart
The Love of God is so powerful – much more so than the power of sin – that even death on a cross couldn’t stop it, nor the imperfections of the Apostles, nor the mistakes or unreadiness that might have been present in the first Christians.
Not Changing the Words, Just the Music
IT IS A matter of fascination to me that, after all these years, we have a pope who can be described as “controversial.”
Suffering, Sacrifice and Joy
One of life’s inescapable mysteries is the presence of suffering. No human person is spared this painful reality. From our first moments – and sometimes to our very last – our lives are marked by the fact that we are limited. When we meet these limitations we quickly realize that we have a choice to make: We can give in and wonder why these things happen to us, bemoaning this basic truth of life, or we can face it, embrace it and grow. We can either be defined by our pain or in spite of it.
An Eastertide of Renewal
Only when we are nourished by the bread of life in the Eucharist can we inspire hunger for God in the many – baptized or not – who do not yet know Christ. Further, we do not have to search far for these people as they live in our own homes and neighborhoods. They go to school or work with us. Sometimes, they even look back at us in the mirror.
In His Name, Salvation Awaits
What’s in a name? Shakespeare asked this question in “Romeo and Juliet,” pointing to a reality we often take for granted: Our names convey to the world something of our very selves. Our identities are intimately bound to the name our parents gave us.
Believe in the Mercy of God
On this Divine Mercy Sunday, we are shaken awake by the gloriously disturbing truth that He is risen – truly risen! … He takes our fearful excuses and buries them, for the tomb is now empty and we are free.
A Resurrection of Joy and Hope
The resurrection of Christ assures us that death is temporary, a message of comfort and hope. It is a message of comfort in that we know our loved ones who have gone before us have not gone away but have gone toward the kingdom, the life after life we are promised. It is a message of hope because the temporary nature of this life need not cause fear; we do not end but are transformed by God’s love.
Challenged to Accept God’s Plan
I have always been a fan of “The Wizard of Oz.” I remember being a child and staring at the television each time it was on as if it were a brand new experience. When, as an adult, I heard about the production of “Wicked,” I was not pleased at the thought that someone was tampering with a longtime favorite.
