by Father Anthony F. Raso THERE IS a wonderful scene in the film, “The Greatest Story Ever Told.” It opens showing the Roman soldiers, marching through Jerusalem, strutting their usual unpleasant stuff, oppressing the people and beating hope out of the souls of everyone. The people on the street seem utterly drained of all power […]
Sunday Scriptures
Nothing to Fear When Your Heart Belongs to God
by Father Anthony F. Raso IN THE FIFTH GRADE in Our Lady of Angels School, my best friend was Frankie. In many ways, Frankie and I formed a kind of “opposites attract” friendship: I was the second-smartest boy in the class (Yeah, “second-smartest” … I don’t think I’ve ever recovered from that. Anyway…) and Frankie, […]
A Season to Be Awake, Alert, Aware
by Msgr. Joseph Calise A FEW YEARS ago I was flying back from a funeral in Naples, Florida, to a funeral in New York. Actually, it would be better to say that I was trying to fly back. The airport that night was a series of problems which were compounded by the fact that I […]
Acknowledging Kingship Demands Loyalty
by Msgr. Joseph Calise It has often been said that sheep are stupid animals. In some ways, I suppose, that is correct. After all, there is little they know how to do except listen for the shepherd’s voice and stay close to one another, even if playing follow-the-leader will lead them to the shearers. Yet, […]
Gifts Are Meant to Be Used
by Msgr. Joseph Calise Several years ago I was visiting some friends for Christmas. After dinner it was time for our customary exchange of gifts. They presented me with a beautifully wrapped package that I opened very quickly. Unfortunately, they were there to watch. As soon as I opened the gift, I knew it was […]
Preparing for Life After This Life
by Msgr. Joseph Calise The long form of today’s second reading from Saint Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians ends with the words, “Console one another with this message.” Those words might seem standard enough until we put them into their context. In this section of the letter, Paul is talking about the final times and […]
Pride Isolates Us From God
by Father William R. Dulaney Stories of drivers, lost and too embarrassed or stubborn to ask for directions, amaze and amuse us. We chuckle and shake our heads in disbelief when we see someone, frustrated and enraged but too thick-headed to yell “help,” abandon a project. We’re disgusted with ourselves when we ignore good advice, […]
Living the Great Commandments
by Father William R. Dulaney IN THE WELL-KNOWN musical, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Tevye and Lazar sing, “God would like us to be joyful even when our hearts lie panting on the floor; how much more could we be joyful when there’s really something to be joyful for?” Fortunately, even in the midst of life’s […]
Have We Given to God What Belongs to God?
by Father William R. Dulaney INTENDING TO entrap Jesus, the Pharisees’ disciples inquire of Him in today’s Gospel, “Teacher, it is lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” Knowing their malice, calling their attention to Caesar’s inscription on the coin that pays the temple tax, Jesus responded, “Repay to Caesar what belongs […]
He Never Stops Inviting Us
by Father William R. Dulaney “DO YOU want the good news or the bad news first?’ Guaranteed to get our attention, likely to unnerve us, this question suggests our joy at glad tidings may be overshadowed by upsetting news we’d rather not hear. Unless we’re careful, bad news can so discourage us that we forget […]