The evangelist Mark is quite convinced that Jesus’ disciples failed miserably most of the time during His public ministry at comprehending His full identity and the Gospel way of life that He proclaimed. Our Gospel passage for today is a…

In our Gospel passage for [yesterday], Jesus explains to His disciples what will happen to Him down the road. It is a recipe that starts with a hearty stock of being “handed over,” continues with a generous portion of suffering…

We have spent several Sundays looking at the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel, commonly called the “Bread of Life” discourse. In it Jesus teaches in clear terms about the wonderful mystery of the Eucharist. The Eucharist is a fountain of…

One of my brothers in Youth Apostles, Father Peter Nassetta, is a fantastic cook and loves to gather people around a table and lavish choice portions upon them. It is a real treat to experience a dinner prepared by him.…

I lost my mother 10 months ago when she died of complications due to emphysema and old age. I have come to know that it is quite painful to lose a parent, especially if they have played a strong, supportive…

I had the privilege of visiting the Grand Canyon some years ago. I vividly remember standing in complete awe of the beauty and mystery that was flooding my mind. I also recall a profound sense that my brain was unable…

The Church in her wisdom feeds our hearts and minds on the Fourth Sunday of Easter with the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. This image, like every Old Testament image and every teaching of Christ in the New…

Our first reading this week starts off: “God put Abraham to the test.” The book of Genesis teaches us that God asks Abraham to make the incomprehensible sacrifice of his only son.

“Then God said, ‘Take your son Isaac, your only…

We can learn much about the Christian life from this week’s Gospel, which offers a glimpse of a day in the public life of Christ. Three important lessons can be gleaned from this short description of a 20-hour period in…

Beginnings are important. The start of Jesus’ public ministry, which we joyfully celebrate today, was well planned by God the Father. Mary had been masterfully prepared, most notably in the Immaculate Conception, to be a worthy vessel through which God’s…