Exploring the Word

9 Jun 2013

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

A world wants for miracles

Tired. That’s how I feel when I read about Elijah rushing upstairs to save a dead child on behalf of his grief-stricken hostess. Or hear Saint Paul’s confession about eagerly persecuting the church until he heartily embraced it and became its biggest missionary. Or consider that Jesus couldn’t walk a mile down a road without encountering someone who needs a miracle out of him.

2 Jun 2013

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), Cycle C

Keep the holy memory

Saint Luke calls it the breaking of the bread. Saint Paul calls it the supper of the Lord. Jesus termed it the new covenant in his body and blood. Most of us use "Holy Communion." But however you describe it, Eucharist is the centerpiece of the Catholic Christian experience.

26 May 2013

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Cycle C

Having the Trinity-talk

It’s a weekend for remembering. Some will visit cemeteries to honor their loved ones or those who have given their lives in service to country. On this Trinity Sunday, though, all of us might seek to recapture the memory of the early church struggling its way to clarity about the Jesus event.

19 May 2013

Solemnity of Pentecost, Cycle C

Take a deep breath

Divine breath has a long history in the Bible. In the Book of Genesis God animates the dust of the earth with breath to form the first human being. The psalmist today assures us that life is renewed or withdrawn every moment at the movement of God’s breath. In the Johannine gospel account Jesus breathes on his frightened disciples to make new creatures of them: fearless apostles.

12 May 2013

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Cycle C

 A blare of trumpets—and a church

"God mounts his throne to shouts of joy.” This image from Psalm 47 makes concrete what must in reality be a less tangible idea: that God takes a seat in eternity which affords a gracious and protective view of all creation.

12 May 2013

Seventh Sunday of Easter, Cycle C

Gospel communications

World Communications Day annually exploits the feast of Saint Francis de Sales, the patron saint of journalists, writers, and educators. For the last 47 years on this day church leaders have wondered how best to use burgeoning media resources to fulfill the gospel mandate to bring the Good News of Jesus to the ends of the earth.

5 May 2013

Sixth Sunday of Easter, Cycle C

God’s last known address

Where is God? Most of the time we probably don’t care—or, more tactfully, we don’t consider God’s whereabouts and may frankly prefer that God maintain a divine aloofness so we can get on with our lives without interference from supernatural sources.

28 Apr 2013

Fifth Sunday of Easter, Cycle C

Christianity isn't easy

Christianity, despite what you may read in the news, is not easy. Jesus talks of glory at the Last Supper but that’s after he’s talked about Passion and suffering for quite a while.

21 Apr 2013

Fourth Sunday of Easter; Good Shepherd Sunday, Cycle C

The shepherd calls you

It would be difficult to approach this annual feast of the Good Shepherd without sparing a thought for the freshly installed (and probably still overwhelmed) pope, but the Good Shepherd the church relies on in every season remains the same as always.

14 Apr 2013

Third Sunday of Easter, Cycle C

Jesus is the difference

It’s best to do as Peter did: confirm your love and loyalty to Christ above every other attachment. You pray that the new person in Peter’s chair is doing the same. Jesus alone can change the want of your world into total satisfaction. He holds in his hands the 153 fish, and you can trust that what is given to him will not get away.