Mar

31

“I’m going to have a what?”

March 31, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Today, the Church commemorates the Solemnity of the Annunciation - when the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she had conceived the Son of God - while still remaining a virgin.
This feast is usually on the 25th of March but is commemorated today because last week was the Octave of Easter.  In any case, being [...]

Feb

10

Dreams

February 10, 2008 | 2 Comments

I bought a book the other day, The Dream Manager, by Matthew Kelly.  I finished it last night.  Now, I have to figure out what to do about what I read.
The premise of the book is that we all need to dream and have dreams that we are working to fulfill.  These dreams might involve our relationships, [...]

Feb

8

Orphans & The Face of Christ

February 8, 2008 | Leave a Comment

I sat with my little girl last night talking about the things she has in her life that too many others may not - food, house, toys, clothes, the basics.
As I was getting ready this morning, I realized that I really didn’t discuss with her the most important thing she has that many other children do not [...]

Feb

1

Tragic Consequences

February 1, 2008 | Leave a Comment

A couple of weeks ago, a family tragedy of biblical proportions hit Cincinnnati.  A mother and her four children (all under the age of 8 years old) were killed.  The husband/father is in jail for their murder.
This family was a Catholic family living an upper-middle class life in an affluent suburban community.
These are the facts as [...]

Jan

8

Love is in the Air

January 8, 2008 | Leave a Comment

After reading today’s first reading (1 John 4:7-10), I started humming that song . . .
“Love is in the air . . . love is all around . . . ”
(Incidentally, it was a 1978 one-hit wonder by John Paul Young - hitting #7 on the U.S. charts).
St. John mentions “love” no less than [...]

Dec

6

The House of Rock

December 6, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Today’s gospel (Matthew 7) is one of the easiest to understand.  It’s Christ’s analogy about building your house on rock versus building your house on sand.
Why is the gospel one of the easiest to understand?  I can just imagine this conversation with a builder or a realtor - “Wow, I really love this house - it’s built [...]

Dec

5

It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way!

December 5, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Wow, I love nights like I had last night!  When God slaps me across the face and says, “Son, you got it good!  Be grateful.  Make the most of my blessings to you.”
I was in Columbus (Ohio’s state capitol) all day.  I was returning home around dinner time.  As it’s a two hour drive home, [...]

Nov

16

A Saint for our Wives

November 16, 2007 | Leave a Comment

I’ve remarked in the past how few saints are known for being mothers.  And it’s a shame because our wives - our children’s mothers - and thousands of generations of mothers who have come before them - perform such a sanctifying role in our children’s lives and our lives that we do them an unforgivable disservice [...]

Nov

12

Helping The Sin of Others

November 12, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Have you ever caused someone else to sin?  Have you ever failed to stop someone from sinning?
If we have, then Christ wants to have a word with us.
In today’s gospel (Luke 17:1-6), Christ warns “[t]hings that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur.”  In other words, do not [...]

Nov

11

The Maccabees - a Nut or a Rock Group?

November 11, 2007 | Leave a Comment

I went to Catholic elementary school for 4th-6th grades.  It was then onto a Catholic high school.  And then a Catholic college.  I had always gone to Mass on a rather frequent basis.  My parents cared about my Catholic upbringing.
And I’m ashamed to admit that my catechist training (i.e. my education on the basics, truths and details [...]

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