When I was 18 years old, I enlisted to serve in the US Navy. My parents, particularly my father, were quite proud of me. I remember leaving, going through MEPS (the military entrance processing ...

When Jesus calls to a group of fishermen at the Sea of Galilee, they leave everything behind to follow him. The story is simple, but powerful. What was it about this man and his invitation that ...

Jesus goes to the shore of the Sea of Galilee to call his first disciples. In this episode, we walk with Jesus on the shore as he encounters a group of fishermen. After preaching to the crowd, he ...

“I will follow you wherever you go” (Luke 9:55). The readings for this Sunday display an intensity and urgency associated with vocation that few of us could claim. Elisha is recruited by the prophet ...

Today’s Gospel comes in two sizes: the short version (Matthew 4:12-17) and the long version (Matthew 4:12-23). I strongly encourage priests to add the extra 45 seconds and use the long version. There ...

After being rejected and nearly killed in Jerusalem, Jesus returned to Galilee. He toured all the towns and villages, teaching in the synagogues and healing the sick. As a mature rabbi, Jesus called a ...

As you may recall, last Sunday we began Ordinary Time, beginning to listen to the lessons of the Gospel that will tell us about the public life of Jesus. Last Sunday, John the Baptist reminded us that ...

One Sunday morning, many years ago, my 3-year-old daughter broke away from my hand and took off like the wind — running as fast as her half-pint legs would carry her — right back to the church. She ...