Point Loma, San Diego, CA
Point Loma, San Diego, CA
There was a young mother in my parish community who was depressed due to financial strain. She prayed for help. One morning before Mass, she placed on the counter a zip-lock bag filled with jewelry and old coins. Smiling, she explained she had been fixing an old cabinet and found the items hidden deep within the walls of her home. …
It’s 9:08 on a Saturday morning, and I am too darn busy for confession. I’ve probably written before about how hard I find it to get to confession — I say ‘probably’ because I really can’t remember. I whine about it so frequently that it’s hard to tell if I’ve made it the subject of a written piece or if …
Your faith has saved you. These are the words I pray I will hear when my heart stops beating, when the last breath has left my lungs. We hear Jesus say these words, or words like them, several times in the Gospels: to the woman bold enough to grasp for his cloak in a crowd, to the men who testify …
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 …
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). …