Through the Din Comes a Call|At first, the words of the Gospel sound daunting. Does Jesus ask us to surrender everything we cherish: family, friends, and life itself? Discipleship is too harsh; surely it targets the ...

The Sweetness and Indigestion of Faith||When I was young, treasures were things or animals: the bike, the dog, the doll with red hair. Things still matter, but now words glow like ripe fruit that can be eaten straight off ...

I Will Find You Moses told them, "This is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat."  (Exodus 16:15)|The wise remind us:  money and wealth do not bring happiness.  Some days we listen and know this to be true.  Then ...

The Living Word "It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities" (Acts 15: 28).|The followers were divided.  Jesus was no longer among them as before.  He had taught ...

The Unruly Heart of Peace Their wickedness blinded them, and they knew not the hidden counsels of God. (Wisdom 2:21-22) In today's reading from Wisdom, we eavesdrop on a surly bunch.  They are not troubled by their wicked ...

The Wonder of it All|"I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses,|in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me."|(2 Corinthians 12: 9) The Christians at Corinth were divided. In his letters, Paul ministered ...

The Promise and the Lie "Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight."  (Psalm 119:77) We are not strangers to struggle.  From war-torn lands come refugees seeking a place where their children ...

A Different Kind of King "The king…shall defend the afflicted among the people, save the children of the poor." (Psalm 72: 4)|Where are you from?  This question often arises in talk among strangers.  Hometown, region, ...

What We Share "I desire mercy, not sacrifice."  (Matthew 9:13) Their job required education.  They calculated and raised the revenue that kept Rome running.  As agents, they had no say in the policies they enforced.  Families ...

Judas and the Rest of Us|Children are rarely named after that apostle. Judas betrayed Jesus and from that deed the passion unfolds. These companions shared meals and faced danger together. Breaking the bonds of trust, the ...