June 2025

We academics all have something called a “curriculum vitae” (CV) – a form of resume listing our training, our faculty and administrative appointments, the papers we have written, the grants we have successfully competed for, the honors and prizes we have received. We use a CV to support grant requests, job searches or requests for […]

It is clear in today’s first reading (2 Corinthians 11:1-11) that Paul is feeling misunderstood in his mission of preaching the good news, frustrated in his attempts to invite us into a personal relationship with Christ, and through Christ, to God.  It is no wonder he is defensive, even sarcastic. Take a moment to think

In today’s first reading (2 Corinthians 9:6-11) Paul continues his exhortation to the Corinthians to be generous. He begins with a kind of proverb: skimpy sowing means skimpy reaping: “…the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” He further adds that each one should make

In today’s gospel story, Jesus tells his disciples to be “unusual”. (Matthew 5:43-48). “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he

On June 16, 1976, nearly ten thousand black students from Soweto, South Africa, woke up and prepared to join a march in protest against the apartheid regime.  They were speaking out against the discrimination they suffered at school as black children and the poor standard of the curriculum.  In response to the march, the South

When I think of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, I am reminded of an old African folk tale that speaks of three blind men who examine an elephant to try to determine what sort of animal it might be. One takes hold of the elephant’s tail and exclaims, “This creature is very much

In today’s first reading (2 Corinthians 5:14-21) Paul continues his self-defense in a spirit not of antagonism, but of reconciliation. He tells the Corinthians of the force that is behind everything he does and says: “For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore, all

Having yesterday presented an impressive picture of the Christian as someone brighter than Moses’ reflecting the glory and beauty of God’s Word, Paul now goes on to the paradox which this situation raises (2 Corinthians 4:7-15). He confronts the difficulty that his present existence does not appear glorious at all, that it is marked instead

Sometimes, I think that scripture was written just for me.  Something is going on in my life, and suddenly, I trip over a scripture reading that directly addresses the issue that I am facing.   How does God do that? Today’s gospel (Matthew 5:20-26) is an excellent example. “Whoever is angry with his brother will

Today we celebrate the memorial for St. Barnabas.  Recall that Barnabas was the delegate chosen by the Jerusalem Christians to go check out the former persecutor, Saul of Tarsus, after he was converted to Christianity on the Road to Damascus.  Barnabas found Saul, now Paul, a charismatic convert eager to convert not only Jews but