Our Lady of Sorrows I’ve often pondered the contradiction Our Lady of Sorrows presents… assumed into heaven, sharing in the glory of her Son, yet tears still being poured out for us in this exile, in this land that is not our home. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he […]

After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command, I will lower the nets.” (Luke 5:4-5) This response from Simon (Peter) has always struck […]

One of my boys has always had sensory issues; certain clothing or fabrics are especially difficult for him to wear. And although he has learned to tolerate the discomfort when needed, his first question when an invitation to an event arrives is, “What is the dress code?” If the answer is “formal,” he then proceeds […]

Memorial of Saint John Vianney, Priest “People come into your life for a reason, A season or a Lifetime.” The opening line of a poem by Brian A. “Drew” Chalker speaks of a reality most of us have experienced. Whether it is sharing a classroom, a parish, or a neighborhood, friendships come in varying degrees […]

I am always amazed by how God entrusts us with so much. He places his precious ones under our care, wounded souls, hungry bodies, searching hearts. Some come to us as children, some only as children at heart. He gives us everything we need and then says, “Go! Glorify the Lord with your lives!” Yet, […]

“Without cost, you have received; without cost, you are to give.” (Matthew 10:8) Now that we have adult children, I do not take the times we get to be all together for granted. As the boys play games and joke around, the sound of laughter fills the house, and my heart overflows with joy. Some […]

Right before praying the Our Father during Mass, the priest says: “At the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching; we dare to say: Our Father….” We dare to call God Father. We dare to tell him what to do…. Give us, forgive us, deliver us. We make sure to point to Jesus first, like […]

“I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.” (John 17:20-21) That they […]

When I read the account of the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15, what strikes me the most is how well they listened. After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to them… (verse 7) The whole assembly fell silent, and they listened… (verse 12) After they had fallen silent, James responded… […]

Today we hear the story of Philip and the Ethiopian. The Bible tells us how God had been working in Philip’s life and how he ended up on that desert road. But we are not informed of the journey that led the Ethiopian man to God. We know he was returning home after going to […]