Where are you going? If I asked you this question, would you be able to give a satisfying answer? You’re not alone if you can’t. Yet, that’s no excuse to remain where you are. Ignorance is never an excuse for ignorance. Before diving in, perhaps it’s helpful to understand why you should care to ask yourself this question in the first place. I remember back in high school, when I got my driver’s license, I regularly needed directions when traveling to unfamiliar places. And even though smart phones were already popular, I had an old LG flip phone. Meaning no navigation apps. Therefore, I had to ..read more

Today’s reading narrates the story of Moses’ birth, and adoption into the family of the Egyptian pharaoh. A great mystery of this passage is the typological understanding of moses’ character, and how he foreshadows the Messiah, yet to come.    This is significant because we can then question how the events in moses’ life point forward to the revelation of Christ in the new covenant.   The circumstances of today’s readings are quite intriguing. As we know, Pharaoh was rather threatened by the idea of a powerful isrealite nation. He worried their strength could overthrow him if he ..read more

“Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.” -St. John Paul II America! Land of the free and home of the brave. America loves freedom. I love freedom. You probably love freedom, too. But do you know what freedom actually is? Many would define it as liberation from European control, as was intended in 1776. Some might characterize it as freedom to chase their dreams. Others may see it as equality, or lack of discrimination. But none of them capture the essence of fr ..read more

“Lord, teach me to be generous; Teach me to serve you as you deserve; To give and not count the cost; To fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil, and not seek for rest; To labor and not ask for reward – except to know that I am doing your will.” -St. Ignatius of Loyola The millennial generation gets land blasted with criticism for their entitled tenancies. Acting as if they are owed something, due something, or deserving of something. True or not, it seems to be a cultural epidemic in America. It’s an easy trap to fall for, especially if you look at life through a lens of fairness a ..read more

You know where you’re going. You know how to get there. Only one question remains: Who will you take with you? Matthews Gospel concludes when Jesus’ commands his followers to, “go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19). Luke’s Gospel reminds you that, “to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom men commit much they will demand the more” (Lk 12:48). In the same manner that Jesus commanded his apostles to evangelize, He also exhorts you. Who will you testify to ..read more

“Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it.” – Luke 17:33   Luke’s Gospel today reminds us of the end times. Jesus compares the the days of Noah, to the days of the Son of Man. Without giving clear indication of what those end times will look like, Jesus certainly exhorts us to be prepared for it. He describes 2 scenarios, each juxtaposing two souls: one that will be gained, and one that will be lost. “on that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken, the other left.” “And there will be two women grinding meal together; one will be ..read more

“I am the vine, you are the branches, says the Lord: whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit” – John 15:5 John reveals to us today a profound truth about our relationship with God. He is the vine, we are the branches. As the vine, God is the source of life. In God, we have the richness, the nourishment, and the sustainability to grow and flourish. Outside of the vine, we wither and die. Surely, it is your Christian mission to remain in the vine. Yet, you let your selfishness, your prideful pursuits, and your human lusts get in the way. You turn inward to seek fulfillment, yet ..read more

“In all circumstances, give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” – 1 Thess 5:18 In the Gospel acclamation for today, we hear St. Paul telling the Thessalonians that the Lord’s will for them is to give thanks. I know many men who get stuck in periods of discernment, unsure of where to go, what to do, or how to live. In their endless ponder, they become paralyzed. Its the paralysis of analysis. After all, discerning God’s will for your life can be a daunting task. We want to be obedient sons, which often makes discernment a stressful endeavor. Yet, St. Paul reminds us th ..read more

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. How frustrated were you the last time you got stuck in traffic? Or how about the last time your phone battery died? I recently lost internet connection at my office. I couldn’t complete any work, and I hadn’t a clue how to fix the issue. Instinctively, I started yelling… at nobody. Felt good to scream, in the moment, because I felt I had bee ..read more

“Faith means battles; if there are no contests, it is because there are none who desire to contend.” -St. Ambrose Whether you like it or not, you are on a spiritual battle field. The devil is real, and he is working to steal your soul from the Lord’s grace. To struggle means to be human. We suffer. Get used to it. Your suffering is your participation on the battlefield for good vs. evil. It is easy to become discouraged, overwhelmed and tired, but submitting is of the Devil. Giving up in the battle for holiness is exactly what the demons want from you. They want you to give up ..read more