Today's Gospel from Mass reminded me once again how simple the basics of Christianity are. Jesus says, "Give, and there will be gifts for you..." calling each of us to consider how we freely correspond to grace and how responsible we are for our growth in holiness and the holiness of those around us as … Continue reading New beginnings →

It's always a wake up call (and a little hard to believe) when Lent arrives. We know it is coming, and yet it always seems a bit "in the future". Then it's Ash Wednesday (today), and we go straight into the season of prayer, fasting, and generosity. This year, of course, has the added reminder … Continue reading Lent and us →

As I approach my 20th anniversary of priesthood this year, I find myself reflecting a lot about a lot of things. How are things going? How could things be going better? What is the real task(s) to be involved with? In some ways, I'm not sure I have to answers to questions like these, but … Continue reading A change of direction →

As I wait for my 100,000 mile Subaru to get an oil change and tire rotation, I'm thinking how important small repairs and changes to an automobile can be for its life. Likewise, my brother in-law texted me earlier today to say he has a new cell number, and we had a nice text exchange. … Continue reading The Power of Conversion →

Not to long ago, I gave a brief presentation on the sacrament of confession to young adults of the Akron, Ohio, Theology on Tap group. We looked at how the Catholic Church has practiced the sacrament of reconciliation since the earliest days of its history. While the early Church focused on the reconciling sinners in … Continue reading True Confessions: a short history of the sacrament of reconciliation in the Church →

Our lives should be viewed through the lens of God's mercy. Almost any situation we encounter either reflects or needs the goodness and forgiveness that only God can offer. From crimes to weather disasters to small frictions in family life, mercy is usually the cure for the ill at hand. In fact, more than anything, we need … Continue reading Sharing God’s Mercy →