America’s First African American Priest At night the great Mississippi River looked deeper than ever as a woman rowed across it with her three small children. The Civil War had just begun. The woman and her children were slaves. They had fled Missouri and …

Yesterday’s first reading (Hosea 11: 1-4, 8-9) presented a bleak picture of Israel. The more luxurious the life of the people became, the more altars and shrines they built to pagan gods. The more affluent they were, the less faithful they were to God. …

(Part Two) The book of Hosea relies heavily on word pictures, metaphors, to get its message across. The metaphor of Gomer, for example, her harlotry, and Hosea’s unconditional love are tangible representations of how, even when we offend God, God unconditionally loves us.  Although …

(Part One) It seems that everyone is talking about it: news, magazines, the internet—everyone is focusing on the difficult times that are engulfing the world. Suicide is dramatically on the rise worldwide, as people are overwhelmed with financial and moral issues that seem hopeless. …

ST. THOMAS – Apostle Poor Thomas! He made one remark and has been branded as “Doubting Thomas” ever since. But if he doubted, he also believed. He made what is certainly the most explicit statement of faith recorded in the New Testament: “My Lord …

Today we begin reading from the prophet Hosea. Hosea lived in Israel, the Northern Kingdom, and began his prophetic career in the last years of Jeroboam II (786-746 BC). Some Biblical scholars believe that he was a priest, others that he was a local …

July 4, 2026 Today, we in the United States celebrate the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence from England, establishing a country where we can enjoy freedoms that no other country at that time got to enjoy.  Today we have the opportunity to reflect …

Part Two Several weeks ago, these Daily Reflections talked about the two ways that evil works against us in our lives:  the devilish works by dividing us from each other, tearing us apart through untruths, slander, jealousy, and accusation; and the satanic that works …

Part One We all remember studying the long conflict between Rome and Carthage over control of Sicily, the Mare Nostrum (Mediterranean), and ultimately North Africa (364 BC – 146 BC).    Who can forget the image of Hannibal crossing the Alps on his elephant …

St. Peter “I do so love St. Peter,” says a friend of mine. “Whenever he opens his mouth, he puts his foot in it.” She is right, of course. Whatever else St. Peter may be, he is not the model of a wise and …