Throughout the Scriptures, we observe the friction that can arise between law and morality, and also law and worship. Throughout his ministry, Our Lord is regularly challenged - Why do you break the law? Why do you not fast on the correct days? Why do you heal on the Sabbath? We even see these discussions…
The Fairy Tale Ending Isn’t the Best Ending to Your Story
Arthur Rackham's fairy story illustrations If you grew up in this area, you've probably been to Hannibal, the birthplace of Mark Twain. You've stood in front of that fence and pretended to paint it while your mom took a picture, maybe you went to the Tom Sawyer cave, or checked out a steamboat on the…
We Aren’t Saved By Faith Alone
All of you, I'm sure, wake up bright and early with good intentions for the day. Then you actually get out of bed. It's the same as how people will have every intention in the world to start exercising, but it never works out. St. James is dealing with a community of Catholics who seem…
The Danger of Closing Ourselves Off From Each Other
There are only a few things that frighten me, and one of them is splinters. A number of years ago I was chaperoning the Epiphany youth group at summer camp in the mountains of Georgia – that was the time whitewater rafting that I pushed poor Timmy K out of the raft to save myself…
Persuasion Is Power
As a young man, St. Augustine was no saint. He was a thief, kept several mistresses, and broke his poor, Catholic mother's heart. Born in north Africa, he moved to the Italian city of Milan to make his name among the Romans. He fit in well with them, as Rome in the 4th century had…
