Friends, today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, when Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River. The baptism of Jesus was a source of embarrassment for the early Church, who wanted to portray him as a powerful son of God; but that is, in some ways, the point. He stands in th...

Friends, on this Epiphany Sunday, we reflect on the wonderful story of the journey of the Magi. Many marvelous spiritual lessons can be distilled by examining the devotion these wise men had for the Christ child. They teach us to follow and trust in the Lord’s leading, to honor him with the best ...

Friends, God cares for the world in a way that confounds us. He is faithful to his promises, but they often don’t arrive as we expect them to. We see this in the readings today as God’s promise to David that his throne would last forever is fulfilled five hundred years later in Jesus. In Jesus an...

Friends, today is Gaudete Sunday. It is a command to rejoice, for Jesus has made us rich through his entrance into poverty. We are reminded both by Pope Francis and the Gospel reading that we must reach out to those on the periphery, suffering from poverty—whether economic, political, or existent...

Friends, in the first reading today, we hear of a people exiled from their homeland of Jerusalem, in need of a highway to bring them home safely across the rough terrain. In the Gospels, we find a people still in need of that highway home, but this time because of a spiritual rather than physical...

Friends, Advent is when we reflect upon the arrival of our Savior who came to ransom his people. We cannot think to ourselves, “I’m basically fine, spiritually.” Rather, we must be penitent; we must remember our lonely captivity. This liturgical season is about shaping softened hearts, making the...

Friends, Christ is the King of all things. His rule is characterized not by totalitarianism or despotism, but rather by lovingkindness and sacrifice. He constantly reaches out his hands to defend the weak and sick, going to the limits of godforsakenness to bring back those who have wandered. We c...

Friends, we must develop a theology and spirituality of work. Meaningful labor awakens our desire to collaborate in God’s creativity. Viewing work in this way—as spiritual and moral action—conquers our melancholy, gives us dignity, and brings us into unity with the purposes of the Lord.

Friends, there’s a great temptation for us to turn the Lord into a distant spiritual entity or a difficult moral taskmaster. We incorrectly believe that we have to crawl our way to the divine by our own heroism, merit, and effort. But this is not the case. In actuality, God, in his wisdom, hasten...

Friends, there’s only one real sadness in life—not to be a saint. But what does it mean to follow this path of righteousness? To follow the will of God, and God wills that we habitually direct our actions and thoughts to the good of others. Jesus says blessed are the merciful, the peacemakers, th...

Friends, the Books of Moses teach that the three types of Israelite law—liturgical law, ritual law, and moral law—shape and direct God’s people toward holiness and purity. While the liturgical laws have been carried over and the ritual laws largely set aside, the moral laws remain unchanged, for ...

Friends, a great theme of the Bible is that of God’s chosen people. At the same time, we also see that God’s salvific plan has to do with all of humanity—and indeed with all of creation. God chooses Israel—and the New Israel, the Church—precisely for the sake of the whole world. Remembering this ...

When we, together, fall in love with the transcendent love of God, we can turn “swords into plowshares.” What will settle the conflict in the human heart? Self-surrendering, alongside our brothers and sisters, to the glory of God.

Friends, in biblical imagery, the vineyard symbolizes the people of God. The Lord nourishes us as our caretaker, but he desires (even demands) that we bear good fruit. The Mass, the Eucharist, the teaching office of the Church, priests and bishops—through these means and through the Church, God c...

Friends, our own wickedness and virtue belong to oneself. Though our communities and background stories affect our mind and will, nevertheless, the individual stands alone in the presence of God. We show God and the world who we are by the integrity of our moral acts. What we do defines who we ar...

Friends, God is close to us, even in our suffering. But it seems inexplicable that he could preside over our calamities, and so we ask, “How could God do this to me?” But the Lord’s ways are not our ways, and our capacity to truly understand his will is limited. We must therefore place our trust ...

Friends, forgiveness is about bearing the burden of the other—what justice requires them to carry, you carry for them. How we forgive others is tied tightly to God's forgiveness of us. If the Lord gives you grace in seventy times seventy ways, you must mirror the same for the brother or sister wh...

Friends, fraternal correction is the act and art of constructive criticism. It's easier than ever today to engage in uncharitable discussions and unjust gossip about one another, especially online. But instead of publicly participating in hypercriticism, we should rather—with compassion and care,...

Friends, if your soul is rightly ordered, it can handle anything. However, if you gain the world but sacrifice your soul for fame or fortune, you’ve lost everything. Getting this right is the fulcrum upon which the spiritual life turns.

Friends, are you spending your time building a pedestal for yourself, or are you breathing life into others? Think about the fact that whatever legitimate authority you have, it ultimately comes from God. And then think about how you're cooperating with and best using that grace.

Friends, in a universe governed by God's providence, there is no such thing as “dumb luck” or coincidence. Therefore, his election and his choosing is not arbitrary or exclusive. Rather, when God invites his people to mission, he is not calling them for their own sakes, but for the sake of the wh...

Friends, there is a beautiful side to religion: it reveals profound truth, it speaks prophetically to the wider culture, and it teaches about God. But there is a brutal side too: it can make you hateful toward enemies, it can fill you with rage, and it can give rise to violence. When we feel the ...

Friends, from Genesis to Revelation, Scripture begins and ends on the principle of the primacy of grace. In the Christian religion, there is no such thing as "conditional love." Rather, God gives freely, and it is our task to accept it. "All who are thirsty, come to the water!" And what is the wa...

Friends, worldly goods like pleasure or power can be the source of our own destruction if we receive them without wisdom. If the Lord told you he would give you your greatest desire, what would you request? King Solomon was presented with this question, and he asked for a wise heart. What pleases...