“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.’” Today’s gospel reminds us that being Catholic does not consist in simply avoiding sin. It does […]

“Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” This passage from today’s gospel closely mirrors an earlier passage from John (3:16): “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not […]

“Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved.” These words from the first reading from Acts, sum up pretty well the message of that whole book. It is part of the dramatic story of Paul and Silas being freed from prison, but refusing to leave and thereby bringing about the […]

“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.’” This brief verse is rich in spiritual encouragement. Jesus is speaking from his heart to his closest friends as he is facing his passion. He wants us to […]

Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.” This simple verse, from today’s gospel reading, sums up Jesus’ entire life. The Old Testament had given the injunction that we should love our neighbor as ourselves. Here the standard by which we are to use as guide is […]

“Jesus said [to them], ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.’” This passage began with the Jews asking Jesus to perform a sign so that they might believe in him. And he had just, on the previous day, fed 5,000 with […]

“The community of believers was of one heart and mind…” This quote for today’s passage from Acts is similar to an earlier one (Acts 2:42-47). The ideal set forth here is that our new identity as Christians gives us a deep relationship with one another. That this is an ideal that was not always realized, […]

John presents us with the narrative that lies at the heart of the gospel. Jesus, who was crucified, has been raised. We watch as Mary, Peter, and an unnamed disciple discover that Jesus’ tomb is now empty; the outward and visible sign that Jesus has conquered death and a new creation has begun. Today we […]

This is the third day of Holy Week. The texts of the gospel of these days place before us the terrible facts which will lead to the condemnation and death of Jesus. Today they focus on the betrayal that made it possible for Jesus to be arrested. It must have contributed enormously to the suffering […]