In this Sunday’s gospel Zacchaeus went to great lengths--or should we say “heights”?--to catch a glimpse of Jesus. He had heard the buzz but wanted to make up his own mind. One-third of U.S. voters still are up in the air . . .

The psalmist this Sunday promises to bless God’s name forever and ever, and Jesus points out in this Sunday’s gospel that despite his less than reputable profession, Zacchaeus, too, is a “descendent of Abraham.” Whether God still considers descendents of Abraham to be “the chosen people,” however, . . .

The reading from the Book of Wisdom praises the diversity of God’s creation and promises that all created things, being of God, will be spared. Indonesia was not spared this week from a string of natural disasters . . .

The second reading this Sunday cautions early Christians not to be shaken out of their minds suddenly or alarmed by second-hand stories of the Lord’s imminent return. Stories of bedbugs showing up in New York City landmarks . . .

“Can’t this country get a break?”

The New York Yankees, with a 2010 player payroll of $210 million, lost the American League Championship series to the Texas Rangers, whose 2010 payroll is $55 million--the largest payroll discrepancy in the history of the major league playoffs