Spirituality
Work of Healing Relationships Done With Love, in Model of Jesus’ Passion
The readings for this Sunday concern reconciliation when the bonds of communion among persons are damaged or broken. Jesus directs us to work together, with His help, to heal those wounds, writes Msgr. Joseph Prior.
The Messiah Who Suffers, and Calls Us to Follow
God saves us not by avoiding suffering but by bearing it, entering into it and transforming it from within, and showing us the way we should follow Jesus each day, writes Father Eric Banecker.
Path of Life, Marked by Sacrifice, Runs Through Jesus
This Sunday's Gospel presents two ways of life: the path of life and the path of death. The choice for the latter, writes Msgr. Joseph Prior, will paradoxically include death for the disciples of Jesus but also to eternal life with Him.
Who Is Jesus? Our Answer Leads Us to Serve Everyone in His Name
When we identify Jesus as Peter does in this Sunday's Gospel, confessing Him as the "Son of the Living God," we share in the work of the Church led by Peter's successor, the pope, explains Msgr. Joseph Prior.
Our Cries of ‘Lord, Help Me!’ Are Answered by Jesus, the One Who Saves
Three simple words from this Sunday's Gospel provide a great prayer for anyone in need, especially when we become tossed on the stormy seas of life, writes Msgr. Joseph Prior in his commentary for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
‘And With Your Spirit’ Isn’t a Shallow Throwaway Line
Our response to the priest’s greeting in the Mass is a deep affirmation of the Holy Spirit uniting Catholics in every country across the centuries, writes Father Patrick Brady. We should speak it thoughtfully.
Jesus Teaches Lesson on Prayer: ‘Being Together’ With the Father We Love
This week's Gospel, explains Msgr. Joseph Prior, completes the journey of Jesus to pray on the mountain, which he intended before meeting the large crowd. Jesus shows us the importance of taking quiet time to be alone with God in prayer.
What a Way to Say Hi: Greeting of the Mass Draws Us Into Divine Life
You can tell what a family believes by how it says hello, and the opening words of the Church’s liturgy greet the congregation with the full Trinity, writes Father Patrick Brady. It's a welcome that waits for us every time we attend Mass.
We Hear God’s Word, and He Feeds Us With His Immense Love
The Gospel tells the story of Jesus feeding of 5,000. In a similar way, Jesus sees us and meets all our needs with compassion. In response we open our hearts to receive in abundance His gift of life and love, explains Msgr. Joseph Prior.
Are We Ready to Give Not the Minimum, But Everything, for the Kingdom?
Like the merchant in the parable of Jesus, we don’t buy the “pearl of great price” as a burden, but as a joy, worth everything we have. We should respond to God’s love for us in the same way, writes Father Eric Banecker.