When “Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits” in this Sunday’s gospel, they exercised their authority well and were successful in their healing mission. Russian government authorities in the flood-prone Black Sea region failed to carry out their responsibilities . . .

The second reading this Sunday speaks of the God’s spiritual riches “lavished upon us.” In terms of economic riches, hard-pressed wage-earners would probably settle for a little relief at tax season. President Barack Obama Monday proposed a one-year extension of the Bush-era tax cuts . . .

Farmer-turned-prophet Amos, featured in this Sunday’s first reading, would likely sympathize with U.S. corn farmers who face potentially severe drought conditions. But the nation—and many other nations that depend on U.S. corn exports . . .

After receiving their first commission from Jesus in this Sunday’s gospel, the apostles “went off and preached repentance.” Taliban hardliners in Afghanistan apparently allow little room for repentance . . .

The psalmist promises this Sunday that the time will come when “justice and peace shall kiss.” The people of Laos, a nation that suffered greatly when caught in the superpower crossfire of the Vietnam War, hope that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s visit . . .

“By all indications, [Christianity’s] future is very bright. [But] there are also many conflicts, and these are particularly serious in the Roman Catholic Church.”

According to a number of recent studies on aging, people over 50, while experiencing some losses in short-term memory and visual spatial processing, also have excellent cognitive abilities, less regret, sadness, and fear, manage anger better, and feel happier.