Author: Paul Grimes

I used to be a bad neighbor. I’d get wrapped up in my life and ignore those around me. Then I found sage advice from Benjamin Franklin to this effect: to be a better neighbor, ask someone to do a favor for you. It’s counterintuitive, isn’t it? Tell strangers that I need their help? Yuck. I’ll risk looking needy. Worse, …

It has always confused me: why a judge? Jesus could have compared prayer to the subject who requests a gift of his king. He could have compared it to the child who asks a favor of a parent. But in the parable of the widow and the judge, Jesus compares prayer — specifically constant, unwearying prayer — with the marginalized …

Mini Reflection: People have a lot of opinions about God. But when the world asks, “Who do you say that Jesus is?” We know the answer. Will we speak up? Some Say At first, the Apostles try to dodge the question. When Jesus confronts them — and make no mistake, it is a confrontation — with the question “Who do …

The doctrine of the Most Holy Trinity is the foundation of our Christian faith. It reveals about the essence of God’s being. God is an eternal communion of love. The Holy Trinity is a community of love: God the Father is the lover, God the Son is the beloved and God the Holy Spirit is the shared love. That is …

Pentecost Sunday celebrates the birthday of the Church. It is the beginning of the work of the Church to continue Pentecost Sunday celebrates the birthday of the Church. It is the beginning of the work of the Church to continue the ministry of Jesus. It is at Pentecost that the gift of the Risen Christ, the Holy Spirit is given …

The New Testament is very clear that the departure of Jesus is not absence but presence. In fact, it is eternal and permanent presence. It is fulfilled in the sending of the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of the Son and the Father. Jesus said, “We will come to him and make our dwelling place with him” (John 14:23). …

During the Last Supper, Jesus said, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you should also love one another!” (John 13:34) This is mandatum novum in Latin, which means the mandate of love. It is a command, not an invitation nor a request. It is not a recommendation nor a suggestion. Ignoring …

Our Catholic Church is so blessed with the election of a new Pope, Leo XIV. And this historical event falls on the week leading to the Good Shepherd Sunday. God is so good giving us a new Shepherd. He is so gracious, a God of surprises. As a Good Shepherd, He provides, guides, liberates, saves and protects us always. The …

During this Easter season, God continues to reveal His generosity, infinite mercy, steadfast, excessive and extravagant love to us. He does not give up on us. He invites us to be witnesses of the miracle of Easter. This is because God’s love never ends and dies. He offers new life to us. That is why, when the apostles decided to …

Sister Faustina (1905-1938) was a young, uneducated nun in a convent of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Poland during the 1930s. She came from a poor family that struggled during the years of World War I. She had only three years of simple education, so hers were the humblest tasks in the convent, usually in …