All learned commentators agree that in the Parable of the Sower, the seed is the Word of God. The question for us, though, is what type of ground do we prepare to receive this seed so that it may bear spiritual fruit? Our anger, resentments, ingratitude, and indifference, not to mention placing too much emphasis…

In the Gospels, the leper and the centurion stand as models of faith. Like them, we need a strong, living, and vibrant faith. Faith, as a gift from God, requires prayer above all else, but we must nourish this gift so that it continues to grow in us. This is why good reading is essential,…

Twice during his earthly ministry, Christ fed a multitude of people by multiplying loaves and fishes. These miracles were performed not only to relieve the people of their physical hunger; they were done to relieve every one of their spiritual hunger, too. In these miracles, Christ shows us all Who God is, that He is…

He who never risks for God will never be an extensive dealer in the riches of heaven. With this in mind, we consider the Magi, who were among the first figures in the New Testament to place their earthly comfort in jeopardy for Our Lord. We consider as well the sacrifice all must make, priest…

The storm-tossed boat on the Sea of Galilee is, according to the Church Fathers, an image of the Catholic Church. For like the boat that contained the frightened Apostles, the Church, too, must endure great storms. Indeed, it is in the midst of one now. Yet Our Lord is with us; He does not abandon…

The Feast of the Holy Family was introduced by Pope Leo XIII in 1892. Why? Because the Catholic Church saw that of the many attacks against Christian life in the modern age, the family was one of the primary targets. For it is in the family that young Catholics are formed and educated in the…

Before His Ascension, Our Lord affirmed that all power in heaven and on earth had been given to Him. Yet many Catholics, perhaps unwittingly, question this truth by wondering why God does not use His power to forcibly correct the errors that plague both the Church and society. What they miss are the many ways…

On the eighth day, Christ submitted Himself to the Old Law by undergoing the ancient rite of circumcision though He had no need of it. He repeats this submission two more times: at the Presentation and in Baptism. Through these rites, Our Lord separated Himself from the world, including sin. What Our Lord reveals, particularly…

It is important to always think of the love of God for us. But how grateful are we for that love? Ingratitude, according to St. Thomas Aquinas, is one of the worst sins, yet how often do we fail to show gratitude? If we are grateful for one grace, we dispose ourselves toward receiving further…

A world that has fallen so far into ruin, hardship, and pain needs one thing above all else and that is Christ. Our modern age is not so unlike the world of 2,000 years ago where the expectation of God’s coming was thought of in a worldly way. We may wish for God to come…