Gospel Commentary Names written in heaven
September 27, 2019
A recent Pew study reported that 72 percent of Americans believe in heaven, but only 58 percent believe in hell.
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God’s longing and active pursuit
September 13, 2019
We are graced this Sunday to ponder three unique parables in Luke’s Gospel that bring into clear focus the longing God has for us to be close to him as well as his active pursuit of us.
Care for creation
August 30, 2019
This year marks the fifth “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation” Sept. 1. For Catholics, the day has its roots in Pentecost Sunday in 2015, when Pope Francis promulgated the Encyclical Letter on Care for our Common Home, “Laudato Si’ ”. It is no coincidence that the letter was given on the day that we proclaim in the entrance antiphon, “The Spirit of the Lord has filled the whole world” (Wis 1:7), and we implore in the responsorial psalm, “Lord, send forth your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth” (Ps 104).
Walk humbly with your God
August 30, 2019
No matter who we are, we all die, leave behind everything of this world, and face judgment. Therefore, better to live always as the humble servant of the Lord now and be recognized as such on judgment day.
All the assurance
August 23, 2019
Each day, the souls of more than 150,000 people pass from this life into eternity. That’s more than 6,000 each hour, or 100 each minute. Have you ever wondered what happens to them all? Where do they go? Jesus’ teaching holds forth two, and only two, eternal destinations for the human soul — either everlasting fulfillment in heaven, or everlasting torment in hell. Dare we hope that most people go to heaven? Some spiritual writers, most notably St. Clement of Alexandria and St. Gregory Nazianzen, believed that God’s mercy was so great that most souls were saved. Many other saints, most notably St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, believed that evil was so pervasive and sin so corrupting, that most souls were lost.
Gospel commentary: Set the earth on fire
August 14, 2019
Jesus says to his disciples in the Gospel of Luke: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” Allow me to attempt to unpack this strong image.
The end of time
August 9, 2019
For a worldly heart, fear might be the response to the final appearance of God, how should a Christian heart respond? The Lord wishes us to be prepared and watchful, but does he want to find us cowering in fear when he returns?
Gospel commentary: The answer to greed
August 1, 2019
Our Lord warns us to guard against all greed; one’s life does not consist of possessions. Greed is the inordinate desire and preoccupation with having more wealth or possessions. The accumulation leads to a sense of self-sufficiency, complacency toward others and independence of God. Notice the operative word throughout the parable is “I”: “I have a great harvest, I need bigger storage bins, I have all I need for years, I will eat, drink and be merry.” Sadly, the greedy person never seems to have enough. For good reason, St. Paul warned of “the greed that is idolatry.”
Gospel commentary: Spiritual health
July 25, 2019
Prudent people take great pains to care for their physical well-being, and turn to a medical doctor at the first sign of illness. But how many people recognize that there is such a thing as spiritual health?
How would you rate your intimacy with God?
July 18, 2019
All three Scripture readings this week speak directly about intimacy with God. How would you rate your level of intimacy with God these days?
