Perspective
On the need for moderation, even in learning
A while back in the Community in Mission blog found at blog.adw.org, I reflected on the puzzling truth that we can endure more pain than pleasure. We seem to be […]
Perspective
A study of sloth in the life of Lot
In Bible study in my parish, we have been reading through Genesis. On Jan. 12 we read of Lot and the horrifying results of his decision to pitch his tent […]
Perspective
God’s power paradox
One of the great cries of Advent is for God to rend the heavens and come down (Is 64:1), for Him to stir up His mighty power and come to […]
Perspective
The beauty of inner silence in a tango
At a past gathering at Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian Parish here in Washington, D.C., there was a demonstration of different dance styles. One of our young adults, Lola, is a student […]
Perspective
What our church buildings say
In the Mass for Thursday of the 25th week of the year, we read from the book of the prophet Haggai, who wrote at the time of the return of the […]
Perspective
Parish boundaries still matter
In my 30 years of priesthood I have come to see the genius in the fact that every Catholic diocese is divided into parishes with definitive geographical boundaries; the strongest […]
Perspective
‘God wants me to be happy’
A reflection on a deeply flawed moral stance One of the questionable, and unfortunately common, forms of moral reasoning today is the rather narcissistic notion that God wants each of us […]
Perspective
The destination must direct the way
Many people say that they don’t hear too many sermons about hell anymore. I believe this is true in general, but I will say that I preach about it a […]
Perspective
The ground is level at the foot of the altar
There is something remarkably universal about most Catholic parishes in the U.S.: Our parishioners come from everywhere. The Catholic Church is 2,000 years old, is a presence in every country, […]
Perspective
The need to persist in prayer and wear God out
In the Gospel reading from Thursday, March 14, the Lord teaches the need to persist in prayer. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock […]
Perspective
In the winter of faith, keep working
As I write this, it is midwinter in the Northern Hemisphere. Like each season, winter has its time, its three months. To many of us, there seems to be a […]
Perspective
Our most primal fear
At Mass for Wednesday of the first week of the year, we read a text from Hebrews that describes our most basic and primal fear. Our inordinate fear of what people […]