All You Need Is Love

All You Need Is Love

In today’s first reading Paul teaches that “all you need is love” but love in a Christian sense.  He closes his reflection on the virtue of love with the statement: “So, faith, hope, love remain…but the greatest is love.”  This hymn is often used as one of the...
A Humble God

A Humble God

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.  The cross proclaims to us Jesus’ humility and sacrifice.  The second reading from Philippians brings out the way of exaltation through humility.  First the hymn proclaims the humility or self-emptying...
Stop Judging

Stop Judging

In today’s Gospel Jesus instructs us to look at our own faults instead of focusing on the faults of another: “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?” (Luke 6:42).  This saying is part of the...
Is It Lawful to Do Good?

Is It Lawful to Do Good?

In today’s Gospel Jesus is confronted by some Jewish Scribes and Pharisees.  The Pharisees are a lay reform movement within Judaism who are zealous for the things of God and seek to discern and to do God’s will.  The Torah commands: “Remember the sabbath day—keep it...
Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy

Jesus calls us as disciples to draw people to God.  Our good deeds can draw people to God, but bad deeds or hypocrisy can drive people away from the church and even from God.  In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus calls us to let our light shine: “You are the light of the...