Association Of Catholic Bloggers

We have all asked that proverbial question: Who am I? The answer can be telling. Do we describe ourselves by our profession (doctor, lawyer, banker, professor, etc.)? Perhaps we describe ourselves by our possessions, or lack thereof (rich, poor, educated, uneducated, etc.). Or, might we describe ourselves as a child of God, a loving spouse and parent, etc.? The answer you give to this question, and the basis upon which you draw your answer, shines a light on what you value. In today’s Gospel from Luke 12:13-21, Jesus wants to impart upon those listening that it is not the sum of your possessions that matter, but whether you value what matters to God. Read more...

In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us an oral exam. Specifically, Jesus asks, “ What is written in the law? How do you read it?” (Luke 10:26) This is in response to a man asking Jesus what is necessary to gain entry to heaven. The man responds correctly, by noting that he is to love God with his whole heart, and to love his neighbor as himself. Yet, the man asks for clarification on the definition of “neighbor.” Jesus responds with the parable about the Good Samaritan. In this story Jesus comments on two people who avoid helping an injured man on the side of the road, as they do not want to violate Jewish law, by touching his blood, for that would make them unclean. Finally, the Samaritan offers compassion and assistance to the injured man. Jesus then asks, Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robber’s victim ? (Luke 10: 36) This is another instance where Jesus reinforces the fact that man was not created to serve the law. Rather, the law was created to serv

In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks “ to what shall I compare the people of this generation ” (Luke 7:31)? Jesus compares the people of His time to John the Baptist, considering John to be the greatest of the prophets on earth, with the caveat that the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist. Something to think about! Remember, at this moment in time, Jesus had not yet opened the gates of Heaven. That would not happen until after Jesus died on the cross, and prior to the Resurrection. So, who were the members of the Kingdom of God at that moment? The Father Almighty, the Son, the Holy Spirit and the angels, were the only members. John the Baptist represents the greatest of the Old Testament prophets, and Jesus represents the greatest of the New Testament, as He is God. It is at Jesus’ Baptism, that Jesus ushers in his ministry and brings the Kingdom of God to earth. Thus, now allowing us to participate in the Kingdom of God. Every time we attend Mass, God invites

In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks. “ is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than destroy it ” (Luke 6:9)?  In the Theology course that I teach, on the Fundamentals of Catholic Moral Theology, I specifically address this question with my students. The scenario goes something like this: A doctor and her family are on their way to Sunday Mass when they come upon a serious car accident. The doctor stopped her car to give comfort and aid to the victims of the crash, until the paramedics arrived. As a result, she and her family missed the last Mass of the day. What I ask of my students is to tell me whether missing Mass is a sin, in this case. What do you think is the correct answer? Do Good in the Spirit of the Law In today’s passage from Luke, Jesus is asking a similar question of the Pharisees. In Jesus’ questioning, He debates the Pharisees on the strictness of the law, versus the spirit of the law. What Jesus tried to convey is... Read

Today’s Gospel reading comes from Matt 23:13-22. In this very cryptic passage, Jesus asks a couple of piercing questions: Blind fools, which is greater, the gold, or the temple that made the gold sacred?  Matt 23:17 You blind ones, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?  Matt 23:19 Jesus asks these questions because He is not happy with the actions of the Scribes and the Pharisees. He sees them as hypocrites, as they do not “walk the talk.” Their actions differ from their speech. The Scribes and Pharisees speak of the promotion of piety, but do not act pious. They believe their words alone will suffice in garnering the desired prestige of the community. Their intentions are corrupt; thereby making their actions immoral. In this passage, Jesus points out that the source of all goodness comes from God, not from man’s piety. Jesus uses the metaphor of the temple being more sacred than the gold within the temple. He reinforces His argument, by noti

In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks the mother of James and John, what do you wish (Matt: 20:21)? Their mother asks Jesus to allow her sons to sit on Jesus’ right and left in the Kingdom of Heaven. This mother has a lot of moxie! In response, Jesus asks an additional question, directed at James and John: “Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink” (Matt 20:22)? What do you wish? I find the question, what do you wish, to be quite intriguing. If Jesus were sitting at a table across from you right now, and asked you that very question, how would you answer? Some of you might respond by requesting material comfort, in the form of money and a cushy lifestyle. Perhaps you might request power to rule over others. Maybe you seek fame. My hope is that you would dispense with these types of requests, and you might ask for any of the following: Read more...

In the early Church, those who spoke in the name of the Lord were considered prophets. It was important for the early Christians to discern between true and false prophets. In today’s Gospel, from Matt 7:15-20, Matthew writes about false prophets. He uses the analogy of trees that bear good fruit (true prophets) versus those trees that bear bad fruit (false prophets). The analogy is meant to correlate to the works of those who speak on behalf of the Church. Some of those who spoke were false prophets, evidenced by their bad deeds. With bad intentions, these false prophets produced bad fruit. Whereas, the Apostles and their disciples, who remained true to the teachings of Christ, produced good fruit via their good deeds. In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus asks a rhetorical question: “ Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? ” (Matt 7:16). Jesus’ question is more of a statement. He tells us that people know the difference between good and evil. People know

How easy it is to judge others! How much more difficult is it to be honest with ourselves! In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus ask, yet again, another “pointed” question Matt 7:3-4. Jesus quickly points out that we fail to see our own sin. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? We are so quick to point out the faults of others; to admonish the sinner, under the guise of a spiritual work of mercy. Yet, we fail to see our own sins; let alone do anything about them. Rather than looking to find fault with others, we need to look inward and take stock of our own sins. Judging others is God’s business and none of our business. Only God can judge others, because only He can read every human heart and know the true intention for one’s actions. Do you not see your own sin? If you want to judge someone, the

Jesus speaks to us today through scripture. In today’s Gospel from Mark, Jesus addresses the Sadducees on the concept of the Resurrection. This is because the Sadducees did not believe in an afterlife. The question originates on the basis of Jewish law. You see, when one brother dies, the next in line is expected to take the widow as his wife. This is for two reasons. 1) so that the widow would be cared for, as she was not allowed to earn a living on her own, and 2) for the procreation of the Jewish population. The Sadducees questioned Jesus, wanting to know whose wife would the woman be at this supposed Resurrection. Jesus, being God, and filled with all Wisdom, responded with a question of His own: Are you not misled because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God?  (Mark 12:24). Using this question, Jesus segues into a revelation of what life will be like at the resurrection of our own bodies, where we will be like angels. The concept of marriage will no long