On occasion inept builders fail to carefully follow the architect’s plan and the resulting building is rendered unstable and requires demolition and starting all over again. In similar vein, Jesus spoke of those who foolishly build their houses on sand—instead of rock—and storms and raging waters easily destroy such constructions. Taking these as analogies for […]

Although it can be forgotten, a gift is a symbol—ideally, a symbol of love, appreciation, or gratitude from the one giving the gift to the one receiving it. Thus, a true gift can never be in payment of a debt, or serve as a bribe, or function as a subtle form of emotional manipulation. The […]

Artistic depictions of the Annunciation are among some of the most beautiful and powerful works of Christian art. And although these depictions typically feature the Angel Gabriel and Mary, some artists only suggest the angel’s presence with a radiant glow of light. And perhaps this is more appropriate since Mary’s Immaculate Heart was a pure […]

One of the central motivations for monastic communities is the mutual assistance that communal life makes possible. Saint Jude describes some of this mutual assistance, with his exhortation to have mercy on those who waver, and to save others by snatching them out of the fire. Unfortunately, this doesn’t automatically happen and, as the gospel […]

Saint James’ call to lament, mourn, weep, and have our joy change into dejection, seems at odds with Saint Paul’s exhortation to rejoice at all times. However, this contradiction is only apparent: Rejoicing at all times is only possible as the fruit of true repentance and conversion. Repentance and conversion are, in turn, initially marked […]

Condemnation of the world (and its punishment) did not require the incarnation; however, salvation did. For, we did not need anyone to instruct us about condemnation and punishment—we experience it all too keenly, see it manifest in one another, and encounter it in the tragic state of our suffering world. Salvation, however, is a different […]

It is one of those perplexing paradoxes of the spiritual life that an increase in signs of God’s power at work in our world can actually weaken both faith and authentic freedom. If we recall that Hebrews defines faith as the assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things never seen, then great […]

The more deficient our self-knowledge, the less likely we are to recognize and acknowledge the truer and deeper motives for our decisions and actions. For, although we may not necessarily act with ulterior motives, we often do act with mixed motives. And it is usually the good motives that we are more conscious of, while […]

John 5: 17-30 Judging others is something we all do. But, unlike Jesus—whose judgment is always just—ours rarely is! One major reason for this is that, unlike Jesus, we do seek our own will. Consequently, we are more likely to judge others unfavorably (and unjustly) when they interfere or oppose our will—and more favorably when […]

The truly humble person receives forgiveness with deep gratitude and even joy. In contrast, the proud person—like the servant in today’s gospel—experiences forgiveness as humiliating and thus seeks to humiliate his fellow servant, in turn. The really proud person is actually incapable of receiving forgiveness and this, perhaps, helps explain why the devil was never […]