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I grew up “looking in” at the Church. I felt that way even when I was in the Seminary studying for the priesthood, like I didn’t really belong there. And I feel that way now that I’m ordained. It’s not the virtue of humility; it’s just what it is for me, but it shapes the way I preach to people (and speak to you hear). I’m always like Thomas in that way: the other guys see it first before me, and then I get let in to the thing later. I’ve come to understand about myself that I am a man completely dependent on second chances. My only hope for holiness (or heaven) is in second chances. And when I preach I tend to consider of first importance those in the church who may feel like they’re looking in at something from the outside and need a second chance.  

With time and openness to the resuscitating friendship of Christ, friendship between men is possible. Lazarus shows us this.

To be Christian is to be alone, but to be alone together with Christ and with one another in the Church. We are those blessed few who have been sought and found by Christ, the Eternal Sunrise, Who shines us who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and Who guides our feet into the way of peace.

Life isn't programmed, but it isn't entirely random either. It seems that Our Lord knew the Samaritan woman would be at the well, just as He knows where to find us when we're hiding, or just in need of restoration.

Is it necessary that all conflict must become all-out war? Is the annihilation of the enemy what makes for peace? Or, is there some way to permit that there will always be conflict in a fallen world, but that not all conflict needs to lead to the tearing apart of peoples. In fact, what if there were a way to be drawn even closer together through conflict?

What drives out demons is not fascination with evil; that often makes it worse. Rather, fascination with Christ reorders us. When we humble ourselves before Him, He repairs the breach between us and the authority of God in our lives and evil is cast out.

The developers of AI began by directing their large languages models through a kind of Constitution, “Do this, and don’t do that,” but they quickly learned that in some mysterious way those models tended to "do what they want” anyway, disobeying the parameters and rules. Now the designers of this false utopia are almost pleading with the software to function with good intentions, and to make decisions based on what is best for the human person. They are asking it to “be nice,” as if that were enough.

A word about coming alive by dying to ourselves, finding fulfillment in emptying ourselves, and living with Christ on the cross.

In the heart of every man there is a desire for God that burns like a fire in need of a fireplace, lest it burn destructively in the world. The Church, as Mother of the Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love, can tame the Natural Virtues of Prudence, Temperance, Justice and Fortitude in such a way as to enable us to wield them toward God, our original desire, our first love.

We hear people saying, "Law! Law! Law!" And we've got great laws, and a great Constitution. So what's the problem? Why isn't yelling, "Law!" working? Is there something missing? Something more essential, even necessary?

We are God's children now, no longer dogs on the street. We once lived by instinct and appetite alone, but now we live by God's Spirit, which illuminates our intellect and will, those faculties of our human soul that are characteristic of the sons and daughters of God.

If we would be truly wise, yes. By God's grace, a man can surrender his gold for the treasures offered to us in Christ, his frankincense for the true prayer that Christ shares with us, and even his own definitions of rest, which Christ also transcends and transfigures. And in fact, man must. Only then will he depart for his country by a different way, changed and intent on peace with his neighbors.

Believing in miracles is essential to our Faith, since the Sacraments are all miracles. But it's still more important to ask what God may be trying to say to us through the specific signs He sends to us in our own days.

I suppose most parents will say to their children, "You can be whatever you want to be when you grow up," but I don't imagine that Our Lady and Saint Joseph said such things to Jesus.

A little boy came to me after Mass yesterday, showing me a gold key in a red bag. It turned out to be a good way of understanding the intercession of the Blessed Mother. This is a teaching on Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and how she desires to help us to stay close to her Son.