Do you know the difference between the Pharisees and the Sadducees?  We hear about these two groups of Jewish leaders all the time in the gospels.  They’re always trying to discredit Jesus.  They saw him as a threat to their religion and, more important, their status as religious leaders.  It seems that too many of them were more concerned about taking care of themselves than their people and they felt threatened by Jesus who constantly talked about loving your neighbor and caring for the poor.  So, they were united in […]

As we look around our world today – whether it is the ongoing war in Ukraine or the increasing tension between China and Taiwan or the political tension in our country surrounding issues such as immigration, abortion or climate change, or car jackings and even stabbings right in our neighborhood, we see so much violence and injustice that plague the world around us.  And, there is no earthly reason to believe that it can change.  If you examine human history, you will find that it’s been like this ever since […]

At this time of the year, we usually have a rash of kids catching cold.  What’s the first thing parents are told when their kids get sick?  Keep them home so they don’t spread their disease.  Our readings today speak about another, much more serious disease – leprosy – that had devastating effects on those who were afflicted with it.  And, unlike today when we have medication to treat it, there was no cure in the day of our Lord.  It is a disease that causes serious deformity and even […]