The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes the works of mercy as “charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities.” (2447) The spiritual works of mercy relate to the needs of the soul, and...
A famous plastic surgeon, Dr. Maxwell Maltz, wrote a book describing some of his experiences, including his encounter with a couple we’ll call Leo and Ramona. Leo’s story was a tragic one. His parents had just died in a house fire; Leo had tried to...
When it feels as if the sky is falling in and the end is near; when we are close to giving up, then, most of all, we must ask for and cling to God’s mercy. If understanding in our hearts that unconditional love is difficult without God’s...
Many years ago a social worker was assigned to visit and, if possible, assist various families who lived in a poor area of a city. Some of these persons were down-on-their luck, and were struggling financially through no fault of their own; others...
Perhaps the clearest message that we should welcome from our readings for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is that God and His plan of salvation for all should be our life’s top priority. However, the didactic story of the prophet Jonah proves that...
Last Sunday, on the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we found ourselves in a vineyard parable (Mt 20:1-16) filled with workers and a landowner. In the story, you might remember that there were workers who had toiled in the fields from dawn to dusk...
The Lord has put it on my heart to launch an army of Jonahs. Satan, the great divider, is creating discord in our communities, our churches, our government institutions and our families. Taking after the prophet Jonah, who preached a...
In Mark’s Gospel (14:22-26), we read about the Institution of the Lord’s Supper. There, in the Upper Room, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Take, this is my body.” Shortly thereafter, Jesus took a cup...
