Robert Bellarmine, reflecting on Jesus' statement in Matthew 11:30 that "my yoke is easy, my burden light," explains it in terms of love of God and the joy and happiness that it produces, in this life, and eternally. For September 17, his feast day....
Leo the Great here comments on the right use of earthly treasure to store up heavenly riches. True wealth consists in the possession of God, the source of all delight. We store it up through mercy and compassion. ...
The parable of the workers in the vineyard is a shock to our sensibilities - some laborers work longer than others but at the end of the day, all get the same pay from their generous employer. Jesus is teaching us something about justice and...
St. Bede the Venerable on the call of Matthew, Tax Collector turned disciple, apostle & evangelist. Matthew, originally called Levi, was, as a publican, excommunicated from the life of the synagogue and shunned in Jewish society....
Bernard of Clairvaux on the martyrdom of the Virgin Mary at the foot of the cross – her heart is pierced by a sword as Simeon predicted. For the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows on September 15....
The parable of the two Sons makes clear that saying yes to Jesus Christ is much more a matter of deeds and actions than words and promises. Talk is cheap but body language never lies....
An excerpt from St. Augustine's sermon 46 on the rigorous accountability required of pastors. However, it is a moving reflection on the nature of Christian leadership that is also relevant for anyone entrusted with the care and development of others including Christian parents, teachers, and...
In this excerpt from his homily on Psalm 100 Augustine explains the line "we are his sheep, the flock he shepherds."...
Augustine, commenting on Ezekiel and St. Paul to call out pastors and shepherds who feed themselves instead of the flock....
September 11th is the anniversary of one of most brutal acts of terrorism of all time. Three days later, on September 14, the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation, and triumph of the cross of Jesus Christ. This reflection...