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We love this story because it paints this gloriously beautiful picture of God’s extravagant grace. But as soon as we start to rewrite it with our own experiences, Jesus’s accusations of what we think we deserve careen towards us with the force of conviction: we do not see ourselves as equals to others, we do not allow God’s grace to rewrite our definitions of God’s justice, and quite frankly, we can’t let go of our own sense of fairness to even consider that justice is not ours to control anyway.

Wow...forgiveness means that?

As we celebrate another Labor Day, let's step back for a moment and consider what Scripture has to say about work and rest.

“But who do you say that I am?”

An Ignatian Reflection

The four different kinds of soil are taken to represent four kinds of responses to the Word of God which it has received.

Father's Day is next Sunday. How about the Father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son? Perhaps we miss the central lesson of the Parable and could gain deeper insight if we referred to it as the Parable of the Incredible Father.

This article calls for Catholics to pray for true vocations and the restoration of faithful obedience to our seminaries regarding the Church's teachings on sexual morality.

But why should we, as a nation and as Catholics, remember something so … grim?

The original day of Pentecost saw dramatic events that are important to the life of the Church. But where did the feast of Pentecost come from? How can we understand what happened on it? And what does it mean for us today? Here are 8 things to know and share about it . . .

Prayer can be described in many ways. Yet, at it’s heart, prayer is simply talking to God. Jesus had taught his disciples early in his ministry about how to pray (The Lord’s Prayer). Now he demonstrates the way to pray, also revealing the heart of God in the process. Our prayers reflect our values and what is truly in our hearts. As Jesus offers his petitions to the Father, let’s notice what they are, and so, align our own hearts with the heart of God.

Literally, Jesus says in verse 18, “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.” No one is meant to be alone in the family of God. No one is meant to be without hope. To gird up that hope, Jesus binds to us the promise of his return, when we will see him again, face to face, and will know by experience the way that the first and second persons of the Trinity are bound to one another because we will be part of that bond.

Thomas is not to blame for this label. He made a reasonable statement in an unreasonable, once-in-a-lifetime resurrection situation. What's fascinating is how comfortable we are in letting Thomas be so trapped.

Jesus has been their life for these last three years. They have left family and jobs -- everything -- to follow him and assist him on his mission. And now he is leaving? He is the one they believe to be the Messiah, the Son of God. How can his enemies win? They are confused, discouraged. So Jesus speaks much-needed words of comfort to these men whom he loves.

When Jesus says he is both “the door” and “the good shepherd” he is using two analogies in order to help his listeners better understand the nature of who he is and what he came to do. He’s a door because he is the way to salvation. He’s a good shepherd because he keeps, protects, and guides his sheep. He’s describing two aspects of his nature and so, we need to resist the temptation to over analyze and over-interpret this passage.

Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road?

This man lived his entire life in the darkness, that is, until he met Jesus.

Notice how Peter responds: “Jesus, it is good for us to be here.”

Wisdom Within Laws About Murder, Adultery, and Divorce

Understanding the ‘Salt of the Earth’ in Matthew 5:13