“Zeal for Your house consumes Me.” –John 2:17 Today throughout the world we celebrate the Church, and especially Jesus, the Founder and Head of the Church. Today we celebrate the unity of the Church, her authority in Christ (Mt 16:19), and Jesus’ special presence in the Church. Jesus is present in the Church universal, for He is her Head (Col 1:18). He is present in the small communities of the Church, for He has promised to be with us in a special way where two or three gather in unity in His name (Mt 18:20). Jesus is present in the...

“Into a soul that plots evil wisdom enters not, nor dwells she in a body under debt of sin.” –Wisdom 1:4 If we wish to be close to God and to keep the faith rather than lose it, we must: not test God (Wis 1:2). God has already proved Himself on the cross and in millions of other ways. We need to be tested, not Him. not disbelieve God (Wis 1:2). Some doubts are steps toward faith, but others are a refusal to accept the gift of faith. These doubts must be dismissed, not entertained. repent of making perverse and...

“This poor widow contributed more than all the others.” –Mark 12:43 The widow of Zarephath and the widow in today’s Gospel reading both gave from their want, all that they “had to live on” (Mk 12:44; 1 Kgs 17:13ff). When Zacchaeus accepted salvation, he gave half his possessions to the poor (Lk 19:8). Barnabas donated his farm to the Church (Acts 4:37). It became so common to do this that Ananias and Sapphira lied and said they gave to the Church all the money they received from selling a piece of property, although they had only given most of it...

“They were in Christ.” –Romans 16:7 Life in Christ is: love, for Christians are brothers and sisters who lay down their lives for each other (see Rm 16:4; 1 Jn 3:16), work “in the service of Christ Jesus” (Rm 16:3), dangerous, for Christians are persecuted, imprisoned (see Rm 16:7), and even martyred, reason to be grateful forever (see Rm 16:4), a home-based community (Rm 16:5), “the mystery hidden for many ages” (Rm 16:25), to “believe and obey” (Rm 16:26), to give glory to the Trinity, to be trustworthy and faithful (see Lk 16:10-12), and the total gift of ourselves to...