“To the Lord our God belongs justice; to us, people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, to be shamefaced, as on this day” (Baruch 1:15) These words from the prophet Baruch are not just a historical lament of the first wave of exiles to Babylon. It is not a...
In today’s first reading, St. Paul’s words to Timothy are both tender and firm. “Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it.” (2 Timothy 3:14) They are the words of a spiritual father urging his son in the faith to...
In today’s Gospel, Jesus sends out the Twelve with power and authority to cast out demons, to cure diseases, and to proclaim the Kingdom of God. It’s a dramatic moment. They are given extraordinary gifts and a clear mission. But what about us? Most of us are not sent...
The year is 587 BC. The armies of Babylon have captured and destroyed the city of Jerusalem – including the Temple built by Solomon. The people are taken into the diaspora that will be known as the Babylonian Captivity. “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat...
“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light.” (Luke 8:16) Jesus uses a simple image—a lamp—to teach a profound truth about discipleship. Think about the...
