The first reading, from the the book of Genesis, tells of what follows immediately after Adam and Eve consume the forbidden fruit. We hear of Yahweh walking in the Garden, looking for Adam, calling out Where are you? With a hint of humor, we hear Adam hiding from Yahweh. His shame makes him reluctant to…
why, why, why? If I asked if you have had a personal encounter with suffering and pain, you would most likely say that you have. If I asked if you have experienced the emotional pain of losing a loved one through a tragedy or through natural passing away—or perhaps a personal loss like divorce, career…
The New World Order I was thinking about how we would respond if Jonah came to Floresville. How would we react if we heard this message; that Floresville or San Antonio will be destroyed in 40 days? Probably some people would ask him for proof. Probably he would get arrested for public disturbance of the…
Discerning vs Doing All three readings from this week echo a theme about the way of God, the will of God. The first reading (Ezekiel 18:25-28) contrasts the ways of God with the ways of man. This is echoed throughout Scripture: “Your ways are not my ways” (Isaiah 55:8). In the second reading, we hear…
Why Forgive? Thirty-six years ago, there was an attempt on the life of Pope St. John Paul II. Many of you may even recall it. Fortunately the pope lived, and after he recovered, he shocked the world when he made a visit to Rome’s prison on Christmas Day to see the man who had attempted…
The theme in today’s holy Liturgy is that of power. We hear it in the first reading, the book of Isaiah, reminding us that there is a power greater than human power (Isaiah 19:22-23). We can think of Pontius Pilate lording his human power over Jesus: “Do you not know that I have the power…
Did God create the world in seven literal days? The Church warns us against taking an exclusive, too literal interpretation of Scripture. Could God have created the world in seven literal days if there was no sun around which to rotate? Those seven days could very well signify times, seasons, perhaps even seasons of evolution….
Where in the Bible does it say that Jesus is God? What is the chapter and verse where Jesus calls Himself God? We know He’s the Son of God. We know He calls Himself the Son of Man (Mt 24:30), the Messiah (Mk 14:60-62), the Anointed One; the Truth, the Life, the Resurrection (Jn 14:6)…but…
A couple of years ago, when I was still in seminary, we were assigned to parishes over the summer. I got assigned to a medium sized parish with a couple of resident priests. I befriended a Jesuit priest. Every night after having dinner, we would enjoy a glass of wine and talk about theology, the…
I was meeting with one of the Confirmation students and talking about the Sacrament. She asks me, “So, what now?” “What do you mean?” I respond. “Well, until now I’ve been in CCD classes for First Communion prep and then Confirmation prep classes. What now? What happens after I receive the Sacrament?” And I thought…
A couple of weeks ago the youth of the Parish and I were reflecting on our human condition, and how divided our fallen human nature is. We talked about how sometimes we know exactly what the right thing to do is, but somehow end up doing quite the opposite. It is in these moments that…
