Perspective
On being a fool for Christ
In the first reading from Thursday of the 22nd week of the year, St. Paul writes: “Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by […]
Perspective
On the truest source of our dignity
One of our deeper wounds is that we tend to doubt our dignity, especially in times of trouble. We look to human being who are fickle for a sense of […]
Perspective
An allegory for what ails our culture?
In ancient Greek mythology, the dog Cerberus guarded the entrance to Hades, the misty and gloomy underworld, the abode of the dead, permitting anyone to enter but none to leave. […]
Perspective
From hero to hated in less than a week
Although we are well into the Easter season, my mind harkens back to an event on Good Friday that has often puzzled me. What turned the crowd against Jesus? Recall […]
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 […]