Oct. 7: 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Some teachings of the church pose a sharp challenge for us today. Whenever I preach in a parish when today’s Gospel forbidding divorce and remarriage is read, I am conscious that there are men and women present who themselves have suffered through the conflict and sadness of a divorce.

Sept. 30: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In his beautiful apostolic exhortation, “The Joy of the Gospel,” Pope Francis speaks with deep respect for people of good will who may have no particular religious persuasion.

Sept. 23: 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The stoics, members of a school of philosophy in ancient Greece, believed that true happiness was attained in controlling one’s passions or unbridled desires and following the better inclinations of our reason to produce a happy life, described as “ataraxia,” or a life of equanimity.

Sept. 16: 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

There is always something of a time warp when I prepare these reflections, because what is happening in the world around me when I write this might be old news when the column is in print.

Sept. 9: 23rd Sunday In Ordinary Time

There is a world-weary saying in French that probably rings true for many: “Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose” — “The more things change, the more it is the same thing.”

Sept. 2: 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

One bright thread that runs through all the Scriptures is an emphasis on action and not mere words. That is clear in each of the readings for this Sunday.

Aug. 26: 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

A good friend of mine served for several years as a volunteer consultant, helping me navigate some thorny management issues when I was president of Catholic Theological Union. There were certain moments when it was clear the time had come for a lingering problem to be dealt with. He would say, “It’s time for a ‘come to Jesus meeting.’” I got what he meant.

Aug. 19: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Gospel for this Sunday continues to draw on the Bread of Life discourse from Chapter 6 of John’s Gospel. In fact, the opening line of this week’s passage repeats the closing line from last Sunday: “the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

Aug. 12: 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The whole world seemed to hold its breath, hoping for the rescue of the young boys and their soccer coach trapped deep in a cave in Thailand last month. Expecting to be there only an hour or so, they entered the cave with no provisions. Only the coach had brought some snacks along.

Aug. 5: 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Latin word “viaticum” literally means “with you on the road” and refers in Catholic tradition to holy Communion given to a person on the point of death. The poignant idea is that this Communion serves as nourishment, or rations, to be taken with us on the final journey of our life.
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