God is demanding. He did not create us idly. He created us for a purpose. Are we willing to find out this purpose?

We must keep sufficient oil with our lamps so that we can keep peering into what seems to us to be obscurity, and thus to welcome the clarity which emerges.

In light of the scriptural expression of tension regarding religious leadership, a reflection on the sexual-abuse scandal in the Catholic Church.

I was on vacation for two weekends.

What is our principle for conducting our lives? We may be stuck in a childhood mode, assuming that "good behavior" or "conformity" is equivalent to living the great commandments, which call for an entrance into relationship when the childhood carry-over essentially has us saying, "I'm good; now leave me alone!"

The focus is on the word "anxiety" as we find it in Philippians, so we can find our way through the vineyard of life's challenges and appreciate the Savior who willilngly entered it on our behalf.

The Scriptures today call us to take seriously the need of all of us to undergo ongoing conversion to the God who emptied himself for the sake of our salvation.

There's a lot going on: Catechetical Sunday, Appeal Sunday for our diocesan services assessment, and so on. Only at the end of a litany of "business" did I comment on "the parable that drives everyone crazy." The challenge of this tale of the workers in the vineyard can be met only if we drop our tendency to analyze every element of the story (allegorizing) and focus on the gift of the day's wage as expressive of the Kingdom of God, offered in its wholeness to people who can't earn it.

In case we are tempted to harbor resentment on this tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Sirach warns against holding on to an embittered spirit, and Jesus asks us to consider to what extent we act as the unforgiving debtor does.

We take a look at a geometric figure in order to consider the ways in which we communicate -- or fail to communicate -- about difficult matters.

What does it mean to be a fulfilled person? Is it enough to have the esteem of others? Do fame, wealth, or accomplishment fulfill us? Jesus bids Peter to look at the Cross and to see that the suffering and death of the chosen one of God is the way to fulfillment.