After a series of Sunday Gospels from St. John, we are back with St. Mark. Jesus is being upbraided by the Pharisees and some of the scribes for His disciples’ failure to pay attention to the laws governing eating. For us in our culture there is an element of parents ticking off their children: “Wash [...]
When Peter, speaking for the twelve apostles, affirms his belief in Jesus, it is in terms of staying with Him, following Him, committing himself to Him completely. So often the word “belief” can mean just accepting statements or doctrines as true, a mere matter of opinion. Yet what today’s Gospel tells us about belief is [...]
Today Jesus announces that He is the living bread come down from heaven to satisfy our deepest longings. He declares that in His flesh and blood God’s life dwells, and that whoever shares in this nourishment will find union with God and the fullness of life.
In Jesus, God enters us and calls us to seek [...]
August 15 is the day that Catholics have long celebrated what is called the Dormition (falling asleep) or Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The Feast of the Assumption celebrates both the happy departure of Mary from this life by her natural death, and her assumption bodily into heaven.
We do know some important facts about [...]
The journey of our own life can often be very difficult. War and threat of death affect many people. Tragedies strike down the lives of others. We are no strangers to sickness and sorrow. The will to live, the strength to carry on, can be drained out of the best of us. It is then [...]
