In Latin class back in high school, our doddering teacher used to try to get us motivated by telling us how useful knowing Latin would be. But we knew better. It was a dead language.

Artists often make the best theologians. Since ancient times they've also been some of the most effective ones.

Luke’s gospel is a journey of contradictions. Jesus requires from his disciples terms that are unusually demanding: Give all that you have to the poor and come follow me!

"Lord, I am not worthy.” We all say that at every Mass—but we don’t always believe it.

Two children, a father, and an inheritance: How many stories begin this way, and how bitterly many of them end! The love of money is the root of all evil, scripture tells us.

In churches around the world this week the Elect will be presented with the Creed. It's a short document, but as the presider says at the presentation, "The words are few, but the mysteries they contain are great."

Abram was 75 and still living with his father when God first came calling with a new plan for his future. No wonder he was so willing to get up and go!

Mark recorded the story of Jesus in the desert first. He tells us Jesus spent 40 days there and was tempted by the devil. Matthew and Luke add that Jesus actually fasted all that time, at which point he was mighty hungry.

Abraham Lincoln said it a little differently than the sage who composed our First Reading, but it’s the same idea. Lincoln said: “It is better to remain silent and thought a fool, than to speak up and remove all doubt.”

Most of us have no quarrel with Jesus. When he says love one another and welcome little children, and peace I leave with you, we find nothing difficult or objectionable in these sayings.