Much of scripture for "Leadership Sunday" indicts religious leaders for their sins. For leaders, the readings can serve as a kind of examination of conscience.

Shock, anger, disappointment, disgust, and apathy are the main emotions the priest abuse scandal and its aftermath elicit from people in the pew. As the gospel is read, many listeners will very easily make a connection between the readings and the scandal.

THE MOON IS a far cry from the Sun in more ways than one. It is not a fiery orb that emits heat and light but a cold satellite that simply reflects the light it receives from elsewhere. That’s on one side, anyway. The other side is in shadow.

The folks who put together this week's lectionary readings could have had Sue Duncan in mind. Like Saint Paul, who was "gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children, Duncan--since 1961 a volunteer teacher at what is now known as the Sue Duncan Children's Center--has been a caring mother, first of her own children, one of whom is the U.S. secretary of education ...

One day it dawned on me that my eighth-grade teacher was a phony. He was a decent person, I suppose, but he was young and insecure in his first year of teaching. His insecurity led him to try to act tough, but he didn't have the courage to stand up to the wilder kids in the class (and there were some wild kids in our class!).

Politicians, civil servants, and business and religious leaders get themselves into trouble when they hold themselves above accepted and expected moral and ethical standards.

A number of years ago comedian Billy Crystal had a running gag portraying Fernando, a quintessential Hollywood character. Crystal would come on talk shows and greet the host with an enthusiastic, "You look mahvelous!"

As we stand before the table of God's love, we turn to God's loving care for mercy and forgiveness.

This commandment is for you. The name of the Hebrew scriptures' brief last book, written around 470 B.C., takes it name from an invention: Malachi is the transliteration of the Hebrew word "my messenger."

God favors the humble. Scripture tells us that he resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. In fact he gives them everything . . . . He cannot refuse it. He gives himself entirely to humility.  --Cardinal Jean Verdier (1864-1940)