Content with a Soul
“Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Those words, spoken across dark and turbulent sea, should put to rest any fear or hesitation. And yet, moments later, we see Peter sinking into the sea. Despite Truth itself standing inches away, Peter could not convince his physical senses to submit. He felt the storm, … Read more
It is easy to let the sheer scale of the miracle obscure the quiet, profound humanity that precedes it. When we read Matthew’s account of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, we often jump straight to the thousands fed, the baskets of leftovers, and the suspension of natural law. But look at the context … Read more
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure As with so much of the Gospel, the parable of the hidden treasure holds a mirror up to our daily lives. Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure buried in a field; when a man finds it, he hides it again, and out of … Read more
How do we approach the “weeds” in our lives? In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells the parable of the weeds and the wheat. A farmer sows good seed, but in the night, an enemy sows weeds among it. When the servants ask if they should immediately pull the weeds, the master tells them no, … Read more
We often overlook preparation and patience as we rush to find answers and solutions. And yet, Jesus reminds us of the profound importance of these two traits through the parable of the sower. The Necessity of Worked Soil When we are building or growing anything of value, preparation is critical, because the sower reaps the … Read more
Before reading the passages for this week, I had wanted to craft a theme around patriotism and related to the Fourth of July, but as they say, man plans and God laughs. The Gospel is a direct response to the namesake here – the call from Jesus to all those with a restless life. And … Read more
The Logistical Puzzle of a Modern Summer As I mentioned last week, it’s been a busy time for me and my family. It feels like we are constantly on the go. The hectic nature of summer break as a working parent is a stark contrast to the leisurely pace of the summers I remember as … Read more
The Trap of Being Stretched Thin This week, I find myself moving too fast. Between summer camps for the kids, work travel, morning to evening meetings, a sick dog, and some inclement weather thrown in for good measure, life’s demands have piled up. Much of this is by my own design, yet I press on. … Read more
Do people know that I am Catholic? I struggle with that – on one hand, I’m not going out of my way to convert or evangelize; but on the other hand, I don’t want to hide my faith, for I’m proud of it. I do want to be seen living out faith, but what shape … Read more
I found it difficult this week to relate the readings on the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ to my life. But as I thought about the passages while driving to work, the line from the First Reading struck me – that not by bread alone does man survive. We see this played out … Read more