Opening the Word: God chose us

Pride is the downfall of the human race. It’s the sin where we imagine in our hearts that God has chosen us because of how remarkable we are. We tell ourselves that we alone are the worthy ones, the righteous ones, the

Opening the Word: To bear bold fruit

Saul isn’t trustworthy. He isn’t trustworthy to the early disciples who had experienced the fruits of his persecution. The apostles wisely ask Barnabas to escort Saul to them so that they can test the validity of his conversion. And Saul, now to

The martyr shepherd

Good Shepherd Sunday is not for the faint of heart. Sure, it’s consoling to contemplate Jesus as the shepherd who seeks out the lost sheep. He finds us caught in the thistles of our wayward hearts, lifting us up and taking us

Opening the Word: Encountering Christ

To be Catholic means entering into a personal relationship with Christ. It is a matter of encounter. But what is the precise nature of this encounter? During Easter, we contemplate what it means to encounter the risen Lord. The disciples are gathered

Opening the Word: Love’s mercy received

In drama, conflicted characters generally are more interesting. If Hamlet had had a clear conscience, a definite sense of purpose, then the tragedy would have ended pretty quickly. In fact, it wouldn’t have been a tragedy. Perhaps it’s our fascination with such

Opening the Word: Jesus’ true identity

Even after 2,000 years, people continue to misunderstand or misrepresent Jesus. Examples are plentiful. From televangelists who churn out cheery books and breezy sermons that sidestep the realities of sin, the cross, and the Passion of Christ, to New Age mystics who

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