I have spoken several times before in this column about the meals my mom and I make for major holidays. Some are quite elaborate, and I’m more than a little proud of our efforts. But there is a drawback as well, and that is that there is always enough food leftover to have about one and a half more parties of the same size when all is said and done. Dividing up the leftovers and forcing people to take home nine-thousand calories worth of food is a task in and of itself. Despite my best efforts, I’ve never been able to convince my mom to cut back on what we serve. Click on title for full column.

I have long enjoyed the comforting transition from working our way through the prophetic longing for Christ that we hear in the Lenten readings to the bold proclamation of Jesus Christ Crucified and Resurrected that we hear from the Apostles during the Easter Season. Having passed through the shadow of the Cross and reflected on the pain, confusion, and fear that they experienced during Jesus’ Passion, we now get to glory with them in proclaiming our redemption, won for us by Our Lord. This week’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles always particularly strikes me as excellent preparation for Pentecost. Click on title for full column.

It is an unfortunate reality that the outside world often views us through the lens of our worst mistake or our darkest moment. But Pope St. John Paul II, in his visit to his native land of Poland, told his people in no uncertain terms that “We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures, we are the sum of the Father's love for us and our real capacity to become the image of His Son Jesus.” So when we reflect on the story of Thomas and his doubts this weekend, it is because God wants to bring about transformation in our hearts, not because we want to keep coming back to one man’s momentary weakness. “Doubting Thomas” might be more charitably (and accurately) called “Thomas who needed a little extra push, but ultimately believed in the end.” It’s wordier but captures the fuller picture. Click on title for full column.

Happy Easter, friends. Every year I struggle to find words to expound on the incredible mysteries we celebrate during the Triduum, and so I’m leaving you with something more ancient and profound than I could produce. This Easter, as we rejoice in the Lord’s Resurrection, I invite you to pray with the words of the Exultet, The ancient prayer of the Easter Vigil, praising the Paschal candle and what it symbolizes. God bless you all and know of my prayers, always. Fr. McC Click on title for full column.

There are only two times in the entire liturgical calendar that the rubrics give specific instructions on a homily, and they are both this week. On Palm Sunday and Good Friday, the Missal tells us that “a brief homily should be given, if appropriate. A period of silence may also be observed.” Obviously, there is something to be said for brevity in the homily after the entire account of the Passion of the Lord is read. Additionally, there is only so much to say after meditating on such great sorrow and pain. Having had the blessing of being in many hospital rooms as people prepare to pass from this life to the next, I know very well that there is only so much one can find to say when people are right in the thick of suffering and loss. There is no witticism or kind word that will completely take away the pain that people are feeling in those moments. One might lessen it, or help them understand that they are not alone, but grief is grief, and in the moment, it cannot be ignored. As we stand at the foot of the Cross, both in the readings and in the Eucharist we celebrate, we must not forget that simple, profound fact. Click on title for full column.