Many of us have likely struggled with understanding the way that God answers prayer. We have asked for something – healing for a loved one, freedom from a particular vice, or maybe clarity and discernment. However, despite the fact that we are assured by Jesus in the Gospel for today that God not only hears our prayers but also responds to them, we sometimes come away from prayer...
A high school teacher, whom we will call Mr. Brown for the sake of convenience, asked his students each year to select a favorite precept (defined as “words to live by”). Each year he collected these precepts; after seven years, he was encouraged to publish a book sharing the precepts that he had received from his students over the years. As an example, the precept that appears on...
The passage that we read from St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians on this Feast of St. James the Apostle is a reflection on the very familiar theme of human fragility and divine strength. Using a metaphor, St. Paul refers to us as “vessels of clay,” ordinary and fragile containers holding the extraordinary treasure of the Gospel. This metaphor emphasizes that the...
Moses had a special relationship with God; he was allowed to enter the cloud over Mount Sinai. In a similar fashion, the disciples had a special relationship with Jesus. While he spoke to the crowds in parables, the disciples were able to ask questions of Jesus. They were being given knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God which had been denied to those who “look but do not see...
The Bible is filled with stories that inspire faith in God's providence. One such story is the miraculous provision of manna from heaven, a form of spiritual food that sustained the Israelites during their 40-year journey in the wilderness. This angelic bread, often called heaven's manna, symbolizes God's care and provision. Manna appeared as a provision for the Israelites during a...