Today's readings [display_podcast] Today's Scriptures address another one of the ways that we fallen human beings tend to avoid the truth. Today we see that the issue is one of obfuscation, trying to confuse the facts. It's a case of "the best defense is a good offense" and so we attack the truth wherever we…

Today's readings [display_podcast] There's something about us human beings that just doesn't like to be told what to do. We don't like rules and regulations, we frown on laws that curtail our freedoms, we turn up our noses at religious precepts which inform our actions. And so we look eagerly for someone or something to…

Today's readings [display_podcast] The book of Daniel the Prophet is one of my favorite books of Scripture. If you haven't read that book, that would be your homework today. It won't take terribly long, but be sure you read it from a Catholic edition of the Bible because other editions won't contain the whole thing.…

Today's readings [display_podcast]  Why is the human heart so much opposed to hearing the truth and acting on it? I remember as a child I used to hate it when my parents would tell me something and turn out to be right. If the truth be told, I probably still struggle with that a little…

Today’s readings Something that often gets overlooked in this very familiar parable is that both of the sons are sinful. We take it on faith that the youngest is sinful: taking half of his inheritance before his father is even in the grave, living a life of dissipation and sexual excess, using up all that…

Today’s readings The great sin of the rich man may not have been the sin of neglecting poor Lazarus, although that was certainly bad. His greatest sin, though, was that he trusted in himself and not in God. He had everything he needed in life, because he was able to trust in himself to get…

Today’s readings Be careful what you wish for, is kind of what Jesus says to the sons of Zebedee today. Those of us who are disciples will indeed drink of Jesus’ same chalice, but when we take it we must remember that it is a chalice of suffering and persecution. So we are never given…

Today’s readings A phylactery was a black leather box that was worn on the arm or the forehead, containing scriptural verses. Maybe the modern equivalent would be a “WWJD” bracelet, or a cross worn around the neck, or even a t-shirt or sweatshirt with a Scriptural verse on it. These are wonderful reminders of who…

Today’s readings Sin is such a tricky thing. How easy it is to see it in others, but sometimes it is very hard to discern in ourselves. Yet Daniel in our first reading shows the importance of acknowledging that we ourselves cannot be just and righteous. We need a Savior to guide us and love…