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 […]
Sunday Scriptures
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 […]
Transforming Our Lives to His Will
by Father William R. Dulaney Some laughter or chuckles from the congregation at the right moment assure a preacher that he got his point across. While a homilist may find it amusing to notice one person in a pew gesturing to another as if to say, “he’s talking about you,” he hopes everyone gathered for […]
Going Beyond Our Spiritual Blind Spots
by Father Caleb Buchanan When we are immersed in serious fights and arguments with our friends, loved ones, classmates, co-workers, neighbors, fellow parishioners and enemies, we tend to cause a great deal of damage to ourselves and others by trying to prove that we are “right” in moments of conflict. When we get caught up […]
Embracing the Joy and Demands of God’s Kingdom
by Father Caleb Buchanan “LAUDATE, laudate Dominum! Omnes gentes, laudate Dominum! Exultate, iubilate per annos domini, omnes gentes!” “We praise you, we praise your Holy Name, God of justice, eternally the same. May our living be thanksgiving, rejoicing in your name now and always!”* This glorious and marvelous refrain resounds in cathedrals all over the […]
Living Our Lives in a Spirit of Forgiveness
Many powerful preachers have spoken about the “privilege of knowing God.” As Christians, it is a tremendous blessing to know the Lord Christ Jesus and pursue the “blessed life” of the Kingdom on His terms. In the second reading from the Letter to the Romans, Saint Paul makes the terms of the Lord very clear […]
