This is the solemn feast of Christ the King and I am going to begin our column with a reference to the famous movie “The Bride of Frankenstein.” It will be a long time before you read another “Sunday’s Scriptures” column that begins on this note, so hang in there.
Sunday Scriptures
For Heaven’s Sake, Choose Wisely
In those days, there was quite an emphasis on eternal punishment as an assistance to keeping young and old alike on the straight and narrow road that led in the opposite direction from the place I saw in that picture. In the past generation or two, there has been much less of this kind of “assistance” as the emphasis has shifted rather to the mercy of God and the sacrifice of His Divine Son to inspire us.
Insane? Or People of Faith?
In the First reading today and in the Gospel, two women appear who, by our usual human standards, seem to be out of their minds.
Goodness Never Dies
ON ONE HAND, I was very unlucky with respect to grandmothers. I was born in 1948 but both of my grandmothers died in the late 1930s. Whenever my classmates in school talked about their grandmothers, I always felt kind of sad because I didn’t have one, at least in this world.
Preparing for the Year of Mercy With Eyes Wide Open
In just seven weeks, Pope Francis, who has proclaimed an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, will open wide the doors of the Church’s Holy Year of Mercy. He is calling us to “gaze even more attentively on mercy so that we may become a more effective sign of the Father’s action in our lives.”
What Wavelength Are You On?
The incident we hear proclaimed in today’s Gospel is around two questions posed through different lenses and leading to all sorts of reactions. Jesus has foretold His impending Passion for a third time now, and those disciples who have remained with Him – who have worked with Him – still seem to be avoiding what’s right in front of their noses.
Leaving Behind the Obstacles To Eternal Life
God knows us through and through. From the womb, and before, we are loved in every fiber of our beings. God knows the secret longings and the desires of our innermost hearts. Today, and every day, we hear an invitation to leave behind whatever gets in the way of that intimacy and deep relationship with God. Jesus has shown us and will show us the way.
God’s Plan Is Our Mandate
“POPE FRANCIS CALLS us to be a community which builds bridges rather than walls… that is what Jesus teaches us with His words and His actions …” – Father Andy Alexander, S.J., Creighton University. The writing of these Scripture reflections begins weeks before they are read. This one was started the day ABC aired a very moving 20/20 special edition featuring a virtual audience with the Holy Father.
Called by Name, Or Nickname
By Father Jean-Pierre M. Ruiz I’M VERY FOND OF my two patron saints. Some friends are convinced that my parents entrusted me to the care of two patron saints by naming me Jean-Pierre because they anticipated I would need more than the average amount of heavenly intercession to keep me on the right path. I […]
How Well Do We Imitate Christ?
I FELT SOMETHING – or someone – tugging on the edge of my chasuble after Mass one Sunday morning. At first, I paid no attention to it, busy as I was greeting and exchanging a few words with parishioners who were heading home. But I felt another tug, this one insistent enough that I couldn’t ignore it.