“But Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released to them Barabbas, and handed over Jesus scourged so that He might be crucified” (Mark 15:15). How much can a single word hold? St. Mark used only one to record the scourging … Continue reading
redemption
Fruits of Redemption
“I’m starved…cheeseburgers…. …What was that idea I had for my ethics paper?… …Man, my knees really hurt right now…” During the final minutes of a Holy Hour, it’s pretty normal to find the mind wandering a bit. The act itself … Continue reading
Spiritual Deafness
We all have our sufferings and problems, but sometimes other people can see better than we what’s wrong with us. For example, the movie Mr. Holland’s Opus stars a music teacher and composer who finds out that his baby boy … Continue reading
The Light of the World
“The Light of the World” Why do you knock like a guest long forgotten?The door remains locked, its heavy frame rotten,While a tangle of vines adorns lintel and post. I come to awaken my slumbering host. Why … Continue reading
The Visceral Reality of God’s Love
I once heard a preacher tell his congregation that Catholics have a peculiar fascination with the gruesomeness of the crucifixion and that this sick fixation on “gore” was behind the death and darkness now celebrated on Halloween. “They love their … Continue reading