Jesus tells Satan in rebuke, “It is written,‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4). He says this in full knowledge that he is himself God’s Word, the heavenly Bread come down to earth. It is precisely this self-knowledge, knowledge that can only come from knowing the Father perfectly, that enables Jesus to do the Father’s works. Socrates taught the vital importance of self-knowledge as an indispensable foundat

Today's gospel reading of Luke 15:1-32, the parable of the prodigal son, inspired me to share a beautiful reflection I've come to treasure over the past few years. The story is told that centuries ago, a certain missionary journeyed to far distant country where he worked tirelessly to share the saving Gospel message with the people there. This life of evangelization eventually brought him into the company of a local artist in that land, a man renowned for his talent and artis

What is "peace"? I believe it was Saint Augustine who described peace as tranquillitatis ordinis - "the tranquility of order." A run of the mill dictionary defines tranquility these days as "freedom from agitation or disturbance" and order as "the rule of law or proper authority." Perhaps, then, my working definition of peace should be something like: "The freedom of dwelling in the state of accordance with God's design and will." Even more simply: "Joyfully living as I was m

There once was a man who claimed to be more than just a man. Everywhere he journeyed the crowds flocked to him, even if only to catch a glimpse. Many broke through the swelling throngs to reach him, determined to overcome any obstacle in order to speak with him, to encounter him, to merely touch the tassels of his cloak. Everyone who did found that profound healing of some kind inevitably resulted from that encounter. But this man was so much more than a wise teacher. He was

I found this picture recently and it got me thinking. Saint Paul famously wrote in his first letter to the Christian community of Corinth, "For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I