From Season to Season

Below is the link for my reflection on this Sunday's First Reading and Gospel in which I reflect on the Insider/Outsider perspective that is so prevalent in society and in the Church.  St. Anthony the Abbot Our disdain of those who do not think like “we” do—whomever “we” may be—reminds me of a teaching of the great Desert Father, Saint Anthony: “A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him saying, ‘You are mad—you are not like us.’” Rather than recognize and welcome diverse perspectives, experiences, and opinions, many of us dig in along the trenches of ideology, political rhetoric, or theological certainty, criticizing and excluding those who “do not follow us.” And whether it is in broader society or within the Church, many seem unwilling—even incapable—of creating spaces of hospitality and dialogue . To read the full reflection, click here .

I'm excited to announce the release of my new book, Lights for a Waiting World: Celebrating Advent With the Saints . This small volume is published by Abbey Press Publications and includes a foreword by Bishop Robert Morneau and original prayers by Fr. Harry Hagan, O.S.B. From the official description: "The four-week season of Advent is a time of miracles. These days have the power to transform us, if we can be open to the graces of the season. In this book, readers watch and wait for Christ’s coming with the saints, whose lives embodied so many of the Advent virtues." To learn more, visit: http://www.onecaringplace.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_20820 An eBook version is also available: http://www.onecaringplace.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_20820E

In my commentary for this Sunday, I reflect on what it means to welcome a little child as Jesus did. Jesus and the Little Child by Carl Bloch "There is no great theological discourse or political rhetoric here. In a single gesture, Jesus summarizes the beauty and the mystery of his message: even those whom the world sees as insignificant are important in God’s eyes. To be Jesus’ follower means that we have to be willing to embrace those dismissed by the world. True greatness comes from serving others." To read the full reflection, click here .

Yesterday, September 13, the Church celebrated the beatification of Blessed Benedict Daswa. A husband, father, and teacher, he was martyred in 1990. He is the first South African to be honored in this way by the Church. Saint Jerome once wrote: “Martyrdom does not consist only in dying for one’s faith. Martyrdom also consists in serving God with one’s love and purity of heart every day of one’s life.” Blessed Benedict Daswa is one of those graced souls who lived this mystery in a particularly effective way in his own life. This was echoed by Pope Francis in his September 13 Angelus address in St. Peter’s Square: “[Blessed Benedict] always showed great consistency, courageously taking on Christian attitudes and refusing worldly and pagan habits. His testimony helps especially families to spread the truth and charity of Christ.” In many ways, Benedict Daswa is like any one of us. A man committed to his family and his vocation as a teacher and catechist, he made his Catholic faith...

In the latest installment in my series of reflections on the Sunday Readings , I explore the meaning of the words "Take up your cross and follow me." By telling us to “take up” our cross, Jesus isn’t saying that we have to meekly endure unfair treatment and suffering or embrace a blind, “offer it up” sort of spirituality. And, while they may be opportunities for grace, illness, sad events, and even disasters aren’t “the cross.” There is nothing particularly Christian about many of the challenges we face in daily life. Finally, we can never silently or blindly accept abuse or injustice as being the will of God. Jesus rejected these and so should we. Instead, “the cross” that we are to carry is the sacrifices, trials, and hardships that can be a consequence of placing our faith and hope in him and of living according to his teaching. To read the full reflection, click here .

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commands… Open-handed, he gives to the poor; his justice stands firm forever.    —Psalm 112:1, 9 As the citizens of the United States are already gearing up for the 2016 elections, we’re going to be hearing more about workers’ rights, labor unions, and the rights that immigrants have (or don’t have) to work or receive an education. This will all be in conjunction with the ongoing debates over raising the minimum wage that are currently taking place in many states. Added to the already tense political situation is the upcoming visit of Pope Francis, which is sure to be a watershed moment for the American Church, even as it ruffles the feathers of political conservatives and progressives alike. In its history, the Church hasn’t shied away from important social justice issues. In fact, it was Catholic leaders in the 19 th century that worked tirelessly in support of trade unions and fair wages and work...

In the latest installment in my series of reflections on the Sunday Readings , I explore the deeper meaning of the wonders and signs of Jesus we find in gospels. "Magic or miracles? How we understand Jesus and his wonders is essential for understanding that this Sunday’s Gospel isn’t only a story about an isolated miraculous healing. That was the mistake the crowd made: they weren’t able to look beyond the healing to see that God was doing so much more. The healing of the deaf-mute was a sign of what God could accomplish in their lives, as well." To read my reflection on Aleteia, click here .