Not too tied to traditions
The church needs to be always alert to ensure that its own traditions conform to God’s word to us, especially as spoken by Jesus. Every so often our church has to renew itself, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to purify its traditions so that they

God’s world and ours

The Genesis reading gives a wide-angle view of the universe as the sanctuary or throne for God’s majestic presence. All religious ceremonies — whether in the Jerusalem temple or on the altars of our churches — must retain contact with the physical world of earth and sky, if they are to be reminders of God’s redemptive acts for us, mortal, earthbound creatures…

What are bishops for?

For almost forty years now, bishops have been chosen directly by the Holy See, with little or no input from the clergy or laity of the diocese they are to serve. While this process may have succeeded in promoting a semblance of uniformity of doctrine and practice, it seriously impinges on the sense of co-responsibility…

Two banquets
This gospel scene is one that has inspired artists and playwrights throughout the centuries. The sumptuous banquet in Herod’s palace for his birthday turns out to be a banquet of death. Mark follows this scene with the feeding by Jesus of the multitude in the wilderness. It is as if the evangelist wants to set Herod banquet of death over against Jesus’ banquet of life..

Twelve Messengers of Heaven

Jesus chose twelve men (their names are listed several times, though with some inconsistencies in the names listed (Mt 10:2-4; Mk 3:16-19-19; Lk 6:14-16; Ac 1:13). Mark tells us that he named them “apostles” (Mk 3:13) and it is clear that special significance was seen in the number twelve, since they are often referred to later as simply “the twelve”..

Who listens to prophets, anyway?

The response Jesus got when he stood up to speak in his own home town was not encouraging. Who would take him for a prophet, anyway, since he’s someone they’ve known for years? What could he have to say that they did not already know?.

The questions he asks

Jesus asks many questions in the four gospels. It can sometimes be worthwhile to notice the questions he asks and to sit with them. Today the gospel has one of those questions, “Who touched me?” The disciples found this a very strange thing to ask…

Predicting His Future

Mary and Joseph must have pondered the words of Simeon and Anna, wondering what they meant for their child. They, like most new parents, probably had dreams for him but the prophetic words of of Simeon and Anna sounded ominous as well as promising