The readings of this Sunday seem to stand apart from one another. In one, we witness the extraordinary power that accompanied the first disciples—healings, liberation, visible signs of divine action. In another, we hear a call to endure suffering patiently, even injustice, without retaliation. And in the Gospel, Christ speaks of love, obedience, and a…
To be a committed Christian today requires us to face danger. This is certainly true in places like Nigeria and other parts of the world where persecution is a real possibility with regular attacks taking place on places of worship and where Christians gather. But there is another sense, closer to home, where our faith…
One of the saints who speaks to me is Thérèse of Lisieux, commonly known as the ‘Little Flower’. This wasn’t love at first sight. For years I was put off and left cold and uninterested by how her person and her image have become encrusted in an overly saccharine piety. She was too sweet, too…
I am currently immersed in a project I undertook in order to get my spiritual groove back: writing out the Gospel of Mark, in longhand. It has been a very interesting, instructive and spiritual enlivening experience and I recommend the practice to anyone – in fact, I may spend the next three Lenten seasons writing…
Acts 8:5-8,14-17; Psalm 66 (65); 1 Peter 3:15-18; John 14:15-21 You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you The Gospel John 14:15 Jesus said: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to…
Q: Recently I went to confession on Saturday afternoon before my parish’s vigil Mass. The priest told me to say a rosary for my penance. But since I was the last one in line, Mass was starting right away and I didn’t have time to say my penance. Then I’m embarrassed to admit I wound…
‘Faith in a time of anxiety’ is a journey from fear to faith, writes Fr Chris Hayden Illiness; death; bereavement; uncertainty; worries about loved ones; wars and rumours of wars; economic and housing instability; energy shortage; disruption to health services; climate change; environmental degradation; terrorism, bio-terrorism and cyber-terrorism; the disruptions and perils of AI; memory…
Never before in human history has falsehood travelled so fast, so far, and so convincingly. In today’s digital world, powered by rapidly advancing artificial intelligence (AI), misinformation and disinformation can be generated and disseminated within seconds, often indistinguishable from the truth. This poses a profound crisis. Truth lies at the very heart of the Christian…
You could be as wealthy as a king – yet miserable – if you have no friends. Or you could be as poor as dirt – yet happy – because you’re surrounded by loved ones. And what personal relationship could be more important than the relationship with God? The saints gave witness to this reality.…
In the early Church, after the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus, and having reflected at length on his parables, miracles, suffering and death, the focus of the debate about him moved from what Jesus did to who Jesus was. This conversation was not without pain and controversy. Positions on Jesus’ identity moved between two extreme…
Fr Dominik Domagala
Fr Ronald Rolheiser