In a time of great uncertainty and fear, I am as tempted to anxiety and even panic as anyone else. Perhaps I should instead take seriously some advice I just came across from a man who was far more acquainted with suffering than I am - C.S. Lewis. Commenting on how he was able to be getting on with life amidst the mounting fears of nuclear war, he wrote: "'How are we to live in an atomic age?' I am tempted to reply: 'Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when

An ancient Midrash legend tells of Abraham in his early life, living in Ur of the Chaldees in Mesopotamia, "the land between two rivers" (Tigris & Euphrates). Abraham was the son of Terah, a man who earned his living as an idol maker. Day in and day out, Terah worked diligently crafting "gods" of stone and wood. The rich pantheon of the ancient gods made it so there was no shortage of work for Terah. But his son did not share his worldview or his enthusiasm for idol worship,

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

It is all too easy to stick to the attitude that might is right. In contrast, mercy usually seems like weakness, a foolish abandonment of the tough and resolute course of action I typically want to pursue. I think we all experience it. Someone hurts me, so naturally that person should be made to suffer in return. A neighbor insults me, so I insult her right back. Or perhaps I even go so far as to spread that delicious little piece of info about her that I know will ruin her r

Recently I heard about a rather fascinating tradition among some of the great missionaries, albeit morbidly bizarre to our confused cultural sensibilities. In eras and regions of particular Christian missionary fervor, it is not uncommon to find references to men and women preparing for their great endeavor by packing not a suitcase, but their own coffins! Can you imagine that? Through a series of providential events and inspiration, you find yourself preparing to go and shar

I will never forget my first parent-teacher conference shortly after beginning my job as a high school theology teacher. I had a student who, from day one, wasn’t about to hide the fact that she disagreed with practically everything the Catholic Church stands for. To this day I’m not entirely sure what interested her or her family in our school, but perhaps grace works in even more mysterious ways than we think! The meeting was called as a result of a poor grade she received

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

The whole vast expanse of the cosmos lies before me, around me, even right in the midst of my beating heart if I will but awaken. Far too often I bury myself deep in distraction, busy-ness, "productivity" or whatever you wish to call it. Why? Because it's easy. Because it's what I know. Even the most pointless, mundane routine or habit can oftentimes seem preferable to change or real growth. Spiritual growing pains are at least as uncomfortable as physical ones, and they are

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

"God seeks you rather than your gift. Christ seeks the one whom he has redeemed by his blood rather than what you have found in your storeroom." - Saint Augustine (Sermon 82, 5) I stumbled across this quote from the inimitable Saint Augustine and it reminded me of something similar from Saint Paul in his second letter to the Christians at Corinth: "I seek not what is yours but you" (2 Cor 12:14). I know that God wants me to do the right thing, to follow the Ten Commandments,

"And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13 Faith. Hope. Love. We hear about these all the time. This particular verse from Saint Paul frequently serves as the exclamation point concluding the passage preceding it at weddings. "Love is patient... love is kind... it does not boast." But why is love the greatest of these three? FAITH is a gift from God. But it is also, mysteriously, something that requires some deg