Perspective
This Advent, focus on presence, not presents
I ordered our matching Christmas pajamas in early October. Worried about supply chain issues and shipping delays, I picked the Nordic blue print we liked best and bought them 11 […]
Columns Archive
The Sunday Gospel
The Son of Man will return with great power and glory
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Mark 13:24-32 The Book of Daniel provides the first reading this weekend. Michael, the “great prince” of the angels, is the center of attention. He […]
Perspective
The miracle we share at every Mass
At their fall meeting, the bishops will have a chance to review, amend and vote on a draft statement titled “The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the […]
Perspective
Don’t forget to pray for our bishops as they meet in Baltimore
For the first time since November 2019, the U.S. bishops will convene in person as a body on Nov. 15-18 to discuss, debate and vote on matters in the life […]
Perspective
Sexual atoms and molecules
A major issue in bioethics today involves “informed consent,” but some try to make everything about consent. This is especially notable when it comes to ethical discussions around the exercise of […]
Perspective
God loves us deeply and wants our love in return
Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Mark 12:38-44 The First Book of Kings furnishes this weekend’s first reading from the Scriptures. Political governance, in the minds of the ancient Hebrews, was […]
A more human society
A partisan court?
“The Supreme Court’s partisanship is becoming increasingly difficult to deny,” said attorney James Zirin in the congressional newspaper The Hill. Other media have published similar broadsides. And according to a […]
The Sunday Gospel
‘The Lord our God is Lord alone!’
Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time Mark 12:28b-34 The Book of Deuteronomy is the source of the first reading. One among the first five books of the Bible, Deuteronomy contains for […]
Perspective
Rejection letters and the spiritual life
Just as “Tiger King” became a defining show of our early quarantine days and “Bridgerton” carried us through the first COVID-19 winter, “Squid Game” has dominated this fall. It’s not […]
Perspective
The grace to endure
“Mommy, I don’t feel good.” Heart sinks. Grab the thermometer. Say a quick prayer it isn’t COVID-19. Call the pediatrician and see if we can get an early morning appointment. […]
Perspective
The will of the people
Left-leaning editorial writers and news anchors have recently been warning us that public approval of the Supreme Court is dropping. They refer to polls conducted by Gallup and the Annenberg […]
The Sunday Gospel
Trust in the Lord, who hears and answers our prayers
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Mark 10:46-52 The Book of Jeremiah provides this weekend’s first reading. A few facts about Jeremiah are known from the book itself. He was from […]