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

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

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