Pardon us asking, but what was the least pleasant year of your childhood? Our seat-of-the-pants survey results are that most people target 7th Grade as the absolute armpit of adolescence.  Your mileage may differ, but social events for most young people at that age were a horrible mixture of peer pressure, cliques, and awkwardness. As Read More >

Last week’s Gospel reminded us of the reality of hell (“wailing and gnashing of teeth”). This week’s Gospel takes us in a different direction – to Heaven.  And the “festal gathering” of Heaven is characterized by an intriguing, and very attractive virtue – humility. In this week’s Pearls episode we look closer at why it’s Read More >

[Pearls Ep 133: Answering Atheism Tuesday.] As we carry Sunday’s Gospel message into the week, we remind ourselves to always endeavor to pass through the narrow gate.   Since Jesus is the gate, and since it is our mission in this life to be united to Him in all that we do, we can see each Read More >

[Pearls Ep 133: Monday motivation.] We’re looking at Jesus call to “strive to enter by the narrow gate.” This is another way to say that we should always be looking for Christ in each moment of the day.  This is the grace that we pray for in the 5th Joyful Mystery (finding Jesus in the Read More >

[Pearls Ep 133: Friday follow-up.] We’re looking at Jesus’ statement that we must strive to enter through the narrow gate, and that “many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” And that led us to St. Paul’s declaration that “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Given Read More >

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus warns, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” So, what manner of strength to we need? St. Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians points us in the right direction – “For when Read More >

[Pearls Ep 132:  Answering atheism Tuesday] We’ve been looking at last Sunday’s Gospel, and Jesus’ desire that we be spiritually on fire.  But He delivers that message with a warning – households will be divided, a father against his son, a mother against her daughter and so on.  The more we give ourselves over to Read More >

[Pearls Ep 132:  Monday motivation] We were dog-sitting this weekend for a friend.  Our doggie guest was a diminutive Maltese of advanced years.  We didn’t want to leave her alone – our own dog would probably have been fine with her, but perhaps not so with our cats, since they are … well … cats.  Read More >

[Pearls Ep 132:  Friday follow-up] We’re looking at this Sunday’s Gospel message – “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” Over the past few weeks we’ve seen Jesus leading up to this with teachings that we need to be detached.  Why?  So that we’re prepared.  Read More >

[Pearls Ep 132] In this Sunday’s Gospel (copied in the postscript), Jesus tells us, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” Fire is a powerful emotive.  Fire: Illuminates Purifies Energizes Casts away predators and defends against enemies Spreads rapidly But it has another characteristic that Read More >