“Over this crossed the whole nation sheltered by your hand, after they beheld stupendous wonders. For they ranged about like horses, and bounded about like lambs, praising you, O LORD, their deliverer!” (Wis 19:8-9) God’s great saving deed on behalf of his people, the Exodus from Egypt, is recounted in today’s reading from the Book […]

The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica “You are God’s building. . . . But each one must be careful how he builds upon it, for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor 3:9, 10b-11) One of my favorite things to do in Rome is […]

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.” (Jn 6:40) On this All Souls Day, we hear moving Scripture readings, including a portion of the […]

“The gardener said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not, you can cut it down.’” (Lk 13:8-9) The gospel passage opens with references to events known to Jesus’ listeners ― an […]

Sts. John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, and Companions “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God.’” (Lk 12:8) Today the Church honors the heroic faith of the North American Martyrs, eight French Jesuits who were killed in southern […]

“He replied, ‘Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.’” (Lk 11:28) Jesus’ enthusiastic praise of those who hear God’s word and act on it has at times been seen as a rejection of the human bonds of family and home. Yet Luke/Acts unfailingly presents Mary, the mother of the […]

“Turning to the disciples in private, he said, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.’” (Lk 10:24) I often think about how […]

“’Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.’ But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them.” (Lk 9:44-45) Despite predictions by Jesus of his passion and death ― twice in Chapter 9 of Luke’s account ― the inner circle […]

St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” (Mt 9:12-13) Today’s gospel and feast underscore that the call to discipleship cuts across ordinary patterns of life. Tax collectors were reviled by their […]