Welcoming the little ones

When Jesus told his disciples to welcome children in his name, it was an important lesson. They were arguing about which of them was most important. But Jesus insisted that seeking social status was not a value for him and had no place the kingdom of God…

A beacon of light

Catherine of Siena’s mysticism did not withdraw her from the world. She was deeply involved in what was happening in Europe and in the church in her time….

Paul’s Mentor

The openness of Barnabas to God’s gifts led him to Tarsus to search for Paul and bring him to join the church in Antioch. If it had not been for him, Paul might have been lost in the silent sands of some desert solitude. ..

Christian Leadership

What splendid leadership Peter shows, pointing the way forward for the church into the future. He also shows a spirit of dialogue, equally vital for our church of today. When challenged about his daring initiative, Peter patiently explains himself. His leadership is not dictatorial but blends inspiration and dialogue…

Mark, pioneering Evangelist

According to Papias, after Peter’s death, at the request of the Christians in Rome Mark wrote what he knew of Peter’s memories of Jesus. His Gospel reflects the plain, blunt speaking style of the Galilean fisherman and captures their sense of awe and wonder at the healing power of Christ…

Questioning Jesus

Many questions are asked in the course of the gospels. Some are posed by Jesus himself, while others are asked by those who meet him. Today it is the Jews who ask, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

Ending on a high note

The readings today are the final verses of Acts and of John’s gospel. “Wait until I come.” Eternity will be the continuation of the final moment in our earthly journey. Jesus comes to us again and again. Our prayer now is a foretaste of heavenly joy.

Learning from an Outsider

God was already drawing the Ethiopian toward faith. This highly-placed eunuch was a God-fearing gentile who believed in Israel’s God, and followed whatever Torah rules were compatible with his family life and culture. The Spirit was attracting this man to a deeper understanding of life…

Even if they first reject it

Philip shares the gospel in Samaria and his message is welcomed. In Luke’s first volume, Jesus tries to speak to the Samaritans but they reject him because he is heading for Jerusalem. But later they welcome his gospel gladly, from the lips of Philip. The gospel can blossom even where it was first rejected …

Stephen’s death and Christ’s

In Acts, Luke compares Stephen’s martyrdom to Jesus’ death on the cross. Each of them, accused of blasphemy, is condemned to death by the Sanhedrin. Each sees a vision of someone coming on the clouds, at the right hand of God. Each asks God to receive the spirit and each prays for the forgiveness of the executioners

Food for eternity

Jesus invites us to look for the food that promotes eternal life in us and satisfies the deepest hunger of our hearts.

To serve the Church’s real needs

The appointing of the first deacons suggests a possible solution for a major need facing our Church today: how to ensure continuation of sacramental service to the People of God. It is clear that the apostles did not seek to end all debate on disputed issues by dogmatic decree, forbidding all further discussion! And their process of selecting the deacons — seeking consensus among the faithful about worthy candidates — has much to recommend it…

Sharing our resources

Today we find Jesus and his disciples faced with a hungry crowd and little or no means of feeding them. In this situation of need, people reacted in different ways. Philip made a calculation: on the basis of the number of people and the amount of money available to buy food, and decided that nothing could be done. Andrew recognized that one of the crowd had a small amount of food but he dismissed this small resource…

Speaking our truth with love

It can be hard to distinguish inner strength from a stubborn spirit of confrontation. How can we know if our convictions are from God and should be obeyed at all costs? Is it possible that our resistance to authority could be rooted merely in pride? Direct revelations from above must be quite rare, so how can we tell if God is really prompting us?

A religion of sincerity and truth

Peter and John are caught in a conflict that involves the high priest and the entire Sanhedrin besides the temple guards. The apostles are imprisoned, and God sends angels to intervene. This same struggle is echoed at universal level in John’s gospel about God’s sending his only son as the light of this world. Light and darkness clash, leading to a judgment for the world. After being freed by an angel, Peter and John are again in the temple courtyard, preaching to an enthusiastic audience. They seem to ignore their recent escape