Reflections

In these three final readings from the first letter to the Corinthians, we begin today the 15th chapter, which discusses resurrection from the dead and its relationship to the resurrection of Christ as a core belief of our Christian faith. In today’s reading (1 Corinthians 15:1–11), Paul introduces the subject by reminding the Corinthians of the Gospel […]

In today’s First Reading (1 Corinthians 12:31—13:13), we have likely one of the most quoted passages from Paul. We have seen Paul speaking to the Corinthian Christians about the various gifts of the Spirit with which different people are endowed so that they can better serve the needs of the community. He had been criticizing

In today’s reading (1 Corinthians 12:12-14,27-31), Paul moves on to another issue in the Corinthian community—the question of “spiritual gifts” or “charisms” These gifts were granted to some members of the community and were the signs by which the Spirit helped the community to function. We need to remember that the organization of the communities,

The gospel reading today (Luke 7:1-10) is not, by itself, a Eucharistic passage, but the centurion’s words: “Lord… I am not worthy that you enter under my roof” are echoed at every Eucharistic celebration everywhere in the world. Indeed, the other two readings —Paul’s letter and the response to the Psalm— render the tone of

Today we hear in the first reading (Isaiah 50:5-9) an excerpt from the “Third Servant Song.” This reading also is heard as the first reading for the Mass of Palm Sunday. It is united closely in theme, to the Suffering Servant Song that is presented a few chapters later (Isaiah 52:13-53:12). These Servant Songs (Isaiah

(Part Three) For the past two days, I have expounded on how I have formed my own opinions about respecting those babies who might be killed in an abortion.  I have tried to explain why an unborn child is indeed “human” and has human rights, including the right to life.  Today I would like to

(Part Two) Yesterday I presented the results of a recent Pew Research Center poll about the attitudes of U.S. Catholics on abortion rights.  The results should be disappointing to all of us.  The results illustrate the current state of catechesis in our Church that many U.S. Catholics choose to follow the secular crowd rather than

(Part One) After the 2022 United States Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, that overturned the deeply flawed 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, where do U.S. Catholics stand in this debate? The Catholic Church always has been one of the foremost opponents of abortion, teaching that human life is sacred from

As three airliners smashed into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon, and Flight 93 crashed into a Pennsylvania field on September 11, 2001, Joaquín Navarro-Valls, at the time the director of the Vatican press office, delivered the news to Pope John Paul II.  “I remember that terrible afternoon as if it were yesterday.

In the run-up to the upcoming United States elections, political parties will have had their national conventions, adopted the platforms upon which their members will run, have selected their candidates for national offices, and held at least two debates between the parties respective candidates for President.   Between now and the elections, I will be