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Throughout Jesus’ public life he was questioned on how to live and ultimately die in God’s favor. Three of the four gospel writers, Matthew, Mark and Luke tell the story of a rich young man who asks Jesus how he can gain eternal life. Jesus tells him to obey the...

Do you believe in God? All of you who read this blog would quickly answer “Yes.” You would, of course, be right since you are reading this blog precisely because you are a believer. But I have often wondered whether or how much we actually believe in God since faith...

I once tried to do a dive off a platform into a swimming pool: jumping forward but then falling backwards into the water. When done correctly, it is called a reverse dive. I did it incorrectly, and landed on my back with a resounding splash. The only injury was to my...

As I type this, I’m working my last few hours before I go on vacation.  It’s working out, because of a federal holiday towards the end, that I’m getting almost a week and half off work.  This, I realize, is an extreme luxury.  Most humans aren’t able to take so much...

I hope preachers won’t be discouraged, but of all the homilies I’ve heard, I remember just three sentences. Here’s one of these, from a homily over 50 years ago: Each time you come to the Offertory of the Mass, offer to God one of your successes and one of your...

In the July 18th edition of our local newspaper, the Walton Reporter, there is a picture of three children standing on the steps of the Walton Theatre, Mara, ten years old and her two brothers, Meyer and Maddox, ages seven and four respectively. Mara had just heard...

In May 2012 IVC volunteers from NY, NJ, Syracuse, and Boston, came together for our final retreat in Long Branch New Jersey on the Jersey Shore. The weather cooperated, and we were able to enjoy inside and out. The author of this year's book, Tomorrow's Catholic,...

Spiritual reflection is related to, but not the same as, seeing our reflection in a mirror. When we look at ourselves in a well-lighted mirror, we see, in present time, our face or other external components of our bodies exactly as they are. When we reflect upon our...

Catholicism has a great sense of place, a faith rooted in special locations around the world.  There is the Holy Land, of course, but in the last two millennia Catholicism has developed a long list of sites around the world with special meaning: the Vatican, Santiago...