What is love? Each of us probably has our own understanding of love, as well as varying experiences of loving or being loved. We need love as much as we need the air we breathe.  So, it’s important to ask ourselves: what is love?  Is it just an emotion, or a virtue?  Is it chemistry or a psychological commitment, or is it a rational decision?  As Catholics we will find the answer by looking to Jesus and his teachings.  And, as you know, Jesus came to fulfill the law and […]

Wow – those scribes and Pharisees were slow to learn, weren’t they!?!  Over the past three weeks, we’ve heard Jesus try to teach them about their disobedience, avarice and indifference toward God and today, instead of repenting and turning back to God, we hear them plot against him.  Let’s quickly review.  Three weeks ago, we heard Jesus speak to them through the parable of the man who asked his two sons to go work in his vineyard.  You’ll recall that the first son said “yes” but did not go; the […]

I hope you paid careful attention to today’s readings, especially the first reading and the Gospel.  If you did, you noticed that both of these readings tell of a wonderful banquet.  Just reading the first line from Isaiah makes my mouth water:  “On this mountain, the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wine.”  Who wouldn’t want to join in that feast?  But, we hear in the Gospel that those who are initially invited refuse […]

Vineyards are all in the news these days, unfortunately because several of them have been destroyed by the ongoing wildfires in California, Oregon and Washington State.  I have family living in California and I’m a wine lover, so I’ve been watching all of this with great interest and concern.  When we think of a vineyard, we think of visiting a winery and tasting their selections or of enjoying a nice glass of wine with friends over a leisurely dinner.  It’s a luxury that many of us enjoy.  For the people […]