Reflections of a Simple Priest

About 50 years ago, when the Church met in the great event we now know as the Second Vatican Council.  They began a reform of the liturgy.  One of those reforms made some serious changes to our readings at mass.  While in the past there was only a single year's cycle of readings.  The council decided it was important to look at how much of the scripture we read at mass.  They radically expanded the amount of the bible covered at mass.  Rather than a single year of readings, they decided on a 3 year cycle of Sunday readings.  Yet, with all of those changes.  The readings we use for Lent were so ancient, and put together so specifically, that they made up an exception.  We use these readings every time we are in year A, and we use them every year at masses for catechumens, those preparing to enter the Church.  That's significant, and so we should pay close attention to how these readings really fit together. This Sunday, as we b...

We live in a world that demands perfection.  We must be absolutely perfect.  If we show even a moment of weakness, we're looked down upon.  If we have any doubt of that, all we need to do is to look at our world of politics.  If someone makes a statement that doesn't get the response they were looking for, immediately you begin to hear, "but that wasn't what I really meant."  Then they begin to change what they really said and try to make it what they should have said.  Or sometimes the opposite happens, how often do we hear that a politician has changed his position, has flip-flopped, and we look at it as something awful.  At the same time though,  Honestly, what would we think of a person who looked at all the evidence, and seeing that he was wrong, decided that he was going to be stubborn and still wouldn't change?  When we put it that way, we'd certainly call him an idiot.  Either way, we can reject the one that listens an...

One of the peculiar things that has come to be a particular issue in our age is stress.  Stress is everywhere.  We have so many things we have to do, so much to accomplish, so many choices and decisions, and while sometimes we've been there before or can ask for advice, ultimately the decision is ours.  We live in a world where one wrong move could make us lose our Job, launch us into poverty, or alienate us from our world.  In many ways, We do not live in a world that believes in second chances or forgiveness, but one where in many careers, if we slip, there might be a dozen people, just waiting to take our place. Of course, every age in history, and every part of the world has its problems.  If we fall into hard times, it is unlikely that we will be completely abandoned.  We have a government that offers social programs, a Church that will help us in need, and all sorts of resources.  Even if we make bad choices, most of us will never star...