The Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes challenge us all. When Jesus praises the poor in spirit and those hungry for righteousness, he is also condemning the self-satisfaction that leads to sloth, a deadly disease that's risen to epic proportions in the Western...
Will there be marriage in heaven? Jesus' answer to the Sadducees about the widow with seven deceased husbands needs to be understood in light of some important truths about the resurrection and the hereafter....
Zacchaeus (a.k.a Zaccheus) was an especially successful tax collector and therefore an exceptionally hated man. On the road to Jericho, from the limb of a Sycamore tree, this blood-sucking vampire caught a glimpse of mercy and grace and had to make a choice....
The parable of the Pharisee and the Publican (aka tax collector) in Luke 18 teaches us a lot about pride, humility and . . . insanity. It even gives us insight into one of the principal battle cries of the Protestant Reformation -- "sola...
Jesus' says "ask and you shall receive." But if we don't listen in prayer, we won't know what to ask for. Here are tips for using the inspired prayers called Psalms as guides to praying effectively....
The Bible stories of Namaan the Syrian and Jesus' healing of the 10 lepers shows us that gratidue is an obligation of justice. To remember the source of our blessings and to give thanks is exactly why some countries, like the USA and Canada, dedicate...
Stewardship . . . what does this term really mean? The parable of the dishonest steward in Luke 16 argues against the divorce between God and everyday life. Though it is idolatry to serve money, it is very important to serve God by the way...
Luke, chapter 16, tells the story of the Rich man and the Beggar, Dives and Lazarus. It shows how some choices we make lead to addictions that can determine our eternal destiny. Gluttony, one of the 7 Deadly Sins, is a poison that has an...
Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son and Israel's worship of the Golden Calf at the foot of Mt. Sinai are some of the best known of all Bible stories. The connection? Maybe they both reveal much about the nature of sin, grace ....
7 minute podcast segment in which Dr. Italy is interviewed about the dynamics of discipleship and the paradox of freedom and rest through discipline. The term discipleship has been heard a lot in the past few years. Many parishes are writing mission statements these days calling...