The story of Jacob and Esau is a story of violence that begins before birth. It’s a story of trickery, of deceit. There’s even an element of parental strife, as father,...

Throughout his public ministry, Jesus addresses people who are overworked or carrying heavy loads due to political and religious oppression. He offers them an alternate way: “Come to me, all you...

A highlight of my recent pilgrimage to Israel came in observing an aged rabbi walking toward the Western Wall. He did not walk alone. Five young men followed close behind. They...

Scarcely a day goes by without a struggle between what I want to do and what I finally end up doing. I face an ongoing battle with my sinful nature. God’s...

My colleagues and I get together once a week for coffee at a local bistro. We share stories and pastoral concerns. After many years of ministry together, we were surprised to...

Where do you go when you nd yourself in the midst of a painful event in your life? Who will embrace you with compassion? Naturally we desire to be with loving...

Not being in control of events and not being able to predict the future, I have learned to live in trust, which offers the gift of waiting. While many consider not...

I believe that we are born with a natural tendency to doubt. When I was five, my parents arranged a family day at the beach. My cousins and sisters found their...

In the verses prior to the ones in today’s reading, Jesus reminds us that the gospel can break families apart; it can set men against their fathers, daughters against their mothers....

My dad died when I was young. My family rarely attended church, so the most positive in uence in my life was Boy Scouts. I learned to love the outdoors, and...