Lent

This is the holiest night of the year — the night when we celebrate Christ’s victory over the power of sin and death. This is the night when we listen to a series of readings that proclaim God’s constant presence and care for all humanity.…

As the Gospel story of Jesus’ passion unfolds today, we witness the light of the world being led from one interrogator to another and finally condemned to a cruel death, by crucifixion. Drawn like Peter, we follow him who has also…

It’s an image and moment of Good Friday I’ll never forget. More poignantly, it’s the sound that still resonates in my mind and heart more than a decade later. I took an extended break — longer than I probably should have — that particular…

“Master, are you going to wash my feet?” The shock in Peter’s question is clear. How could his Lord and master stoop so low? Paul answered clearly in last Sunday’s liturgy: ”He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave.” “Father, are you…

Around this time of year, I love to remind everybody of the stunning metaphysical similarities between the Exodus narrative and the passion, death, and Resurrection of Christ. Tell the truth: you groaned a little when you read that. It is…

Judas Iscariot. The very name fills wannabe villains with envious dreams and aspirations to emulate the greatest traitor in history. He who betrayed the Son of God himself, a man of such poor morals that most everyone would consider him…

At a recent meeting with young Catholic men this past Mardi Gras, we talked about the upcoming Lent season, why it is so important to us as Catholics, and why we should try to give something up in preparation for Easter. We then went around…

Imagine walking through a garage sale dotted with forgotten toys, 1980s videos, tired-looking clothing, and there — sitting between grandma's old dishes and Tupperware — is a case containing an ill-used Communion chalice and a paten.…

For someone like myself who lives in the Northeast, Lent can be a rather dreary time of year. The weather is miserable, the motivation for work is nowhere to be found, we’re past the charm of winter and well before the beauty of spring. It…

A little bit of Martha Stewart — Catholic-style — comes out in me as Easter approaches. I enjoy looking for special touches that I might add to the usual Easter basket fare. At the top of my list is always chocolate — what’s new and what’s…