Thus says the LORD: “You shall not molest or oppress an alien… You shall not wrong any widow or orphan. If ever you wrong them and they cry to me, I will surely hear them cry.” (Ex 22:20-22) In our first reading today we hear how God commands his chosen people not to molest or oppress …
Then they handed him the Roman coin. He said to them, “Whose image is this…” They replied, “Caesar’s.” At that he said to them, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” (Mt 22:19- 21) Justice is giving to each person that which is due to him. God …
The king said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside…” (Mt 22:11- 13) In the Lord’s Prayer we petition God the …
Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir… They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. (Mt 21:37-39) Admirers of The Lord of the Rings will recall that great line …
“A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards changed his mind and went.” (Mt 21:28-29) Man has free will. It is one of the two excellent powers in the human soul besides the …
‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? (Mt 20:13-14) When we think of a generous person we often think of one who is wealthy or of sufficient means …
Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight. The vengeful will suffer the LORD’s vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail. (Sir 27:30 – 28:1) Vengeance in the human heart is the angry portion of justice. Vengeance, or the infliction of punishment upon one who has done moral wrong, is …
Thus says the LORD: You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel; when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me. (Ez 33:7) The Church offers “vigil” Mass because of the many duties and complications the modern world has imposed upon Sunday especially the requirement of work. …
I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it. (Jer 20:9) Someone I once knew faulted me for being “addicted to religion”. This …
And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. (Mt 16:18) Gates generally don’t prevail; at least they don’t in any kind of military offensive. Armies don’t move about in great mobile enclosures with gates …