Thursday, April 27, 20170293The basilica of San Clemente in Rome features a stunning apse mosaic depicting the cross of Christ as a tree trunk bearing immense fruit in the form of circling vines and flowers. The radiant colors and decorative forms make visible an idea cherished by the early theologians of the Church: that the cross is truly the tree of life, from...
Thursday, April 20, 20170145Lent is over. Now it is time to celebrate Holy Week and Easter. For forty days, we tried to understand the rough words spoken to us as a priest marked our foreheads with ashes: “Remember, mortal, that you are dust and to dust you will return” (Gn 3:19). Now we try to understand that marvelous event which took place two-thousand years...
Friday, March 31, 20170264
By Father Thomas Esposito
Special to The Texas Catholic
Among the myriad treasures of Sacred Scripture, one of the most neglected has to be the Letter to the Hebrews. It receives relatively little attention in the liturgy, and I imagine few people would be able to recall any recognizable theme or passage from the book. Many might...
Wednesday, March 29, 20170266What is the difference between evangelization and proselytism? As Christians, we have been commanded to go out and “make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19). And yet, we are sensitive to the conflicts that emerge from proselytism, or from attitudes that are — rightly or wrongly — sometimes associated with Christian missionaries:...
Saturday, March 11, 20170148What is the difference between evangelization and proselytism? As Christians, we have been commanded to go out and “make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19). And yet, we are sensitive to the conflicts that emerge from proselytism, or from attitudes that are – rightly or wrongly – sometimes associated with Christian missionaries:...
Saturday, February 11, 20170129Jesus tells us we are “the salt of the earth” (Mt 5:13). In other words, we are the seasoning of the world – that small element that makes the whole enjoyable. With the Holy Spirit dwelling in us through baptism, Christians are destined to change the world like spice turning soup from tastelessness to perfection.
There is a contradiction in our culture which crosses all divides. It has to do with freedom. On the one hand, we are all taught to cherish freedom, whatever our social, religious or political background. But on the other hand, we tend to run from freedom as far as we possibly can.
Wednesday, January 11, 20170106There is a contradiction in our culture which crosses all divides. It has to do with freedom. On the one hand, we are all taught to cherish freedom, whatever our social, religious or political background. But on the other hand, we tend to run from freedom as far as we possibly can.
Sunday, November 27, 20160165Advent is a season of expectation. The prayers and readings of the liturgy teach us to look forward to the coming of Christ, the bringer of every blessing. This involves conversion, or an effort to unite our affections into an undivided love for “God-with-us” (Emmanuel), Jesus of Nazareth, who brings with himself wisdom, justice and...
Wednesday, November 16, 20160341The designation of Christ as “King of the Universe” can sound a bit fantastic to a secular or cynical mind. The title, so simple in concept and yet audacious in claim, could easily be applied to a mythological hero or a comic book character, fictional greats who have seemingly usurped the role of models worthy of imitation by...
