“As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea, they were fishermen.” Matthew 4:18. Simon was enjoying a nice quiet day out on θάλασσα, the...
Like most Catholics, I’ve lulled myself into thinking that I’m doing pretty good: Mass on weekends, daily Breviary, contemplative prayer… until I had a rude awakening. During a recent residency week in a spiritual direction formation program I...
A married couple, Ardith and Jerry, had many problems in their marriage, but were trying to work things out after being separated for over a year. During the separation Ardith had met a man named Bob, who lived in a city four hours away, and she...
Several years ago, on a warm August evening, I rushed to find a parking spot in downtown Detroit. Shortly, I would have the privilege of serving as deacon of the Mass at a national conference of musicians. Now given that my musical and singing...
Each day, life calls us. At morning, noon, and night there is a temptation to allow the voices present in our work and home lives to consume us. But, I wonder. While it is true that we are called to be responsible to the voices that surround us, do...
Jesus speaks of how we must be salt for the earth and light for the world—but in fact, many of us as Catholics often fall short in living out and sharing our faith. If all members of the Church took their faith seriously, this world would be a much...
The Anunciation refers to the announcement (Luke 1:26) by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus. Upon hearing this, the Evangelist tells us that Mary was deeply troubled. But the angel said to...
In Psalm 139:13-16, the psalmist reflects: “You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are your works! My very self you know. My bones are not hidden from you, when I was being...