Archive | Question of the Week

Praying “always” may seem like an impossible task. Is it really possible to do so? Does God even expect this of us? It most certainly is and He most certainly does. No, we will not be called to spend all day, every day, at church in prayer. Not even those called to the cloistered monastic […]

Today’s leprosy is not a medical condition or a legal status. It is, rather, a spiritual condition. It is leprosy of the heart. Its symptoms have nothing to do with our skin. Instead they are things like perfectionism, gluttony, sadness, anger, pride, boredom, gossip, the need to control or of approval, fear, being judgmental, restlessness, […]

If we keep going back to the fountain of faith and taking up the task of discipleship, then at the end of the day, we will be simply doing what we were obliged to do and find ourselves to be good and faithful servants. Whether we do more or less than our brother or sister […]

St. Augustine described sin as “turning inward” and caring only about the self. In today’s Gospel, we see the rich man as a prime example of this sin: a man so selfish that he failed to see someone lying at his door. We are challenged to reflect on the ways in which we turn inward, […]

The point Jesus wanted to make with today’s parable is that we should be wise in our use of our worldly goods, because if they are used selfishly, they will fail us. However, if we share our resources with others, true wealth will await us in the Kingdom. The final point of Jesus’ words is […]

If you have ever lost a child either at a shopping mall, amusement park, or outside playing, you know the anguish of losing something beyond measure. The joy you experienced when you found each other is often something you can’t even put into words. Part of you wants to be angry because the child caused […]

In today’s Gospel Jesus does not tell us that we should have no love for the things most precious in our lives, our many bonds of kinship, even our own life itself. He is telling us that even these things must not be given a preference in our decisions that would amount to a renunciation […]

Humility, true humility, is not hovering in a corner and falsely putting ourselves down. True humility is based on honesty – acknowledging who we are in God’s sight and how the Lord Jesus has blessed us. It also requires that we have the same attitude that Jesus demonstrated by His compassion and His reaching out […]

We are cautioned in this Gospel to be more than mere acquaintances with Jesus. We are challenged to have a deep and loving relationship with Him. What’s the difference between the two? We are probably best at answering that question ourselves, but perhaps we attend Mass every week to fulfill an obligation. That might be […]

Sometimes we have to take an unpopular stand against the ideas of others. When we say “no” to someone who wants to hear “yes,” division is created. Parents make decisions that serve a purpose and guide the formation of their children. Friends may say “no” to each other creating division. Of course, healing and reconciliation […]