Today's reading from the Book of Genesis tells us of how God changes Jacob's name to Israel, a name which means that he is one who has grappled with God and with people and has prevailed. His name becomes the name of his people as they too are "wrestling" with the mystery of God's attempts to form a covenantal bond with the human race.
Jacob's name, Israel, reveals to us how God has...
In today's passage from the Book of Genesis, Jacob strikes a bargain with God. All of us have done. "If" God grants the favor we are asking, "then" we will do such and such. Jacob is running from Esau whom he has robbed of Esau's birthright. He is being hunted. In a dream, God promises to stay with him as protection against whatever ill may be pursuing him. So Jacob promises that if God...
Fr. Lawrence speaks of the Gospel for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the C Cycle of the Lectionary for Sunday Mass.
Today's first reading presents us with the "Reader's Digest" version of a rather lengthy story from the Book of Genesis. I am always curious when I notice that the citation at the beginning of the reading indicates that verses have been ignored. Consequently, I looked up the entire story. I would encourage you to do the same.
The length of the story of how Abraham's story finds a wife for...
My Lord and My God! (John 20:28b)
St. Thomas will never live down the nickname that he has been given because of his response to the news that Jesus had risen. He will forever be known as "Doubting Thomas." I would ask, however, how you would have responded to the news that Jesus had been seen after his death by crucifixion? Perhaps you would not have expressed your doubts in words,...