Early in his ministry, Jesus leads his disciples to climb a mountain with him. When they reach the top of the mountain, Jesus chooses 12 of his followers to be apostles, a word which means “to be sent.” The fact that this choice takes place on a mountaintop is significant. Jesus is inviting these men to go deeper into their relationship with God. These 12 men were not perfect. All...
In an essay written by Joan Howard, she recounts the years when she was occupied caring for five children whose births spanned eight years. She remembers the many demands that they made on her attention, demands that included tying a shoe, wiping a runny nose, reading a bedtime story, helping with homework, and a myriad of other tasks.
She also recounts how one day she found herself talking...
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the gift of the Holy Spirit that we call fortitude “enables one to conquer fear, even the fear of death, and to face trials and persecution.” It can be likened to courage in the face of danger. Courage is expressed in both of the readings for today’s liturgy.
David the shepherd-poet, confidently and courageously steps...
The concept of a day of rest on the Sabbath comes from the Book of Genesis. “On the seventh day God completed the work he had been doing; he rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken. God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation.” We know that human beings and all the creatures of nature were...
I believe that I have mentioned before that Ordinary Time, like the other seasons of our liturgical year, does have a theme that runs throughout. The readings that we will hear during this particular season all have to do with the “cost of discipleship.” There are some of you who may think that this idea of there being a cost involved signals that it is some sort of nepotistic...