Coming to deeper self-knowledge and a truer sense of our sinfulness, typically occurs in stages—from being more superficial to becoming more profound. In today’s gospel, Peter comes to an awareness of his sinful condition—depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man. However, this acknowledgment—though sincere—is still only superficial. This becomes clear in that […]

The long, arduous, and, at times, seemingly impossible, quest to attain true inner silence is, nevertheless, the only way our hearts become that rich soil—receptive to God’s Word, and thus bearing the hundredfold. It is only when we have acquired this inner silence—and quelled the inner chatter of our restless minds and stilled the insidious […]

In order to be a just judge one needs more than knowledge of the law and whether or not someone has transgressed the law. Looking both at a transgressor’s motivations as well as any mitigating factors that help understand the transgressor’s behavior are equally crucial to dispensing justice. God shows himself just such a just […]

There is fundamentally only one category of sin that inevitably separates us from God, and places us outside the ambit of God’s grace; and that sin is pride. All other sins have at least the potential for becoming moments of grace, and a repentant turning back to the God we have offended. In addition, every […]

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 […]