Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! (Luke 13:2)

 My view of God growing up was very much the old man in the sky waiting and watching to catch me messing up so He could […]

We are all shocked by the images of the bombardments in Ukraine. We are all devastated to know that today, just on the other side of the ocean, there are parents who are losing their children and children who are seeing their parents being killed. I am Italian and therefore […]

Since we were kids, we used to hear a wise proverb from mom and dad, which is perhaps, at first glance, a raw truth of life. They used to tell us frequently:  “in life nothing is guaranteed to happen, except death.”  It’s true, indeed very true. The only sure thing […]

In the Gospel of Luke, we hear those famous mantras of Jesus: “love your enemies,” “do good to those who hate you,” “bless those who curse you,” “pray for those who mistreat you,” “turn the other cheek.” Whoa, we might be saying! Not so fast! Not so easy! All of […]

For Saint Ignatius of Loyola the discernment of spirits is a way by which we come to understand God’s will for us.  The practice of the Examen, a technique developed by St. Ignatius, is meant to be a short, “quarter of an hour” prayerful reflection on the events of the day […]

I remember a day when a close friend invited me to his home. I had never been to his place and really had no idea how to get there. He sent me his address and, after setting up the GPS in the navigation system, I took off. On the road, […]

I was a dreamer as a child. I was happy going to my parents’ farm, walking through rough and bulky terrain, admiring the thickness of the woods with its leafy trees and chirping birds. With an adventurous soul, I remember having hiked up a small mountain all by myself, without […]

In today’s gospel, foreigners seem to enjoy more success than the people of Israel. Jesus encountered opposition and rebuke from people in his hometown, especially when he reminded them that it was often “outsiders” or “others” who benefitted from God’s mercy before the Chosen People. The Build the Faith community […]

I find great meaning in the words of Jesus when He says: “I did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32)  Even after the resurrection, the first and the last apparition of the Risen Christ recorded in the gospel, was to notorious sinners.  First, He […]