Scripture

August 8, 2018

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.”

August 8, 2018

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.

July 25, 2018

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.

July 25, 2018

July 29: 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Recently our part-time community cook resigned to take up a full-time job elsewhere. I live in a community of nine men and, like most humans, we have to eat. So, while searching for a replacement, we have been taking turns preparing our evening meal.

July 11, 2018

July 22: 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

I have the privilege of regularly leading groups to the Holy Land. Inevitably, the first time we encounter a shepherd leading a flock of sheep there is a flutter of photos taken through the windows of the bus.

July 11, 2018

July 15: 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

One of the legends of classic Chicago politics was a comment passed on by the late Abner Mikva, the distinguished lawyer, judge and presidential advisor. Early in his career he wanted to volunteer to serve in the presidential campaign of Adlai Stevenson and went to offer his services to the local ward committee man, Timothy Sullivan.

June 20, 2018

July 8: 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Cost of discipleshipThe “Cost of Discipleship” is the title of a famous book written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a young Lutheran pastor and theologian who lived during the Nazi era in Germany. A brilliant and winsome man, he had spent some time studying at Union Theological Seminary in New York.

June 20, 2018

July 1: 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

As he grappled with an aggressive cancer, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin wrote a beautiful reflection on his experience titled “The Gift of Peace.” So deep was his faith that Cardinal Bernardin, despite being aware his life was ending, spoke of death as a “friend,” something he did not fear but could even embrace.

June 20, 2018

June 24: Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist

Recently I was in Louisville, Kentucky, for a graduation. My nephew’s wife, Monica, just finished nursing school and it was a joyful occasion for sure. What made it especially poignant were the difficult times Monica and her family suffered this past year — the loss of her brother in automobile accident and overcoming a serious medical condition.

June 7, 2018

June 17: 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thomas Berry was a remarkable scholar who in his later years became a leading voice in alerting the world to the threats to our environment. A fellow Passionist priest, he began his ministry as a philosopher and a missionary to China. Later he turned his brilliant mind to environmental studies, underscoring the intimate connection of human life to the earth and to the universe itself.
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