Perspective
Shared decision-making in medicine
In recent years, there has been a lot of discussion about shared decision-making in the practice of medicine. One of the main reasons for this is that some in the […]
Columns Archive
Perspective
Why does God make us wait?
In last Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus healed many people at Capernaum. But the next day, though many were looking for Him and wanted healings, He said to His apostles that it […]
The Sunday Gospel
Those who put their trust in Jesus have hope
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Mark 1:29-39 The Book of Job is the source of this weekend’s first reading. Scholars disagree as to when this book was written. This book […]
Perspective
What we know about St. Joseph
By John Fink On Dec. 8 of last year, Pope Francis unexpectedly declared the Year of St. Joseph, from then until Dec. 8 of this year, as a special time […]
Perspective
The Christian call to become people of encounter
By Gretchen Crowe The pope’s message for World Communications Day, released every year on the feast of St. Francis de Sales, patron of writers, is always something to which I […]
A more human society
The perils of isolation
The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed many victims, beginning tragically with the death of hundreds of thousands of our neighbors. Some of its harms are more intangible but equally real. Precautions […]
The Sunday Gospel
No attachment to sin or evil is greater than the power of God
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Mark 1:21-28 The Book of Deuteronomy furnishes the first reading for this weekend. Deuteronomy appears in modern bibles as the fifth book in sequence in […]
Perspective
A new day and an offer to engage
Inauguration Day began with a private Mass of Thanksgiving held at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, for the Biden family and congressional leadership. The inauguration itself started with an invocation […]
Perspective
When an obituary becomes a prayer
I’ve never had to write an obituary. I realize how fortunate that makes me. As a professional writer, I’ve imagined what it would be like to write one. Perhaps that’s […]
Perspective
An examination of identity
Recently I was on retreat for a week and was given the time to pray and to reflect on the year 2020 and to look forward to the future of […]
The Sunday Gospel
Jesus calls each of us to discipleship
Third Sunday In Ordinary Time Mark 1:14-20 The Book of Jonah is the source for the first reading. Scholars believe that it was written sometime after the Babylonian Exile of […]
Perspective
Exhaustion meets new beginnings
During these first weeks of the year 2021, I have spent a significant amount of time in conversation with colleagues, students, family and friends. We talk work, life, our children, […]