Once again it is the responsorial psalm that sets the tone for the readings proclaimed this Sunday The ldquo kindness rdquo referred to here is the covenant love that binds God to covenant partners This lovingkindness is the basis of God rsquo s compassion and generosity God cares for those in

The psalm response for the First Sunday of Lent sets the tone for the entire season It is one of the most familiar biblical prayers for divine mercy ldquo Have mercy on me O God in your goodness In the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense rdquo In this simple verse we find two tec

Who has not heard or even sung the ditty ldquo This little light of mine I rsquo m gonna let it shine rdquo Children learn it and sing it with delight As simple as the words may be and as airy the melody the message is profound In fact it can be fully understood only by adults for it is a

Ash Wednesday launches us into the season of Lent The themes of the day are quite sobering The ashes placed on our foreheads are meant to call to mind the inevitability of death as one of the accompanying prayers reminds us ldquo You are dust and to dust you shall return rdquo Ash Wednesday

A clever advertisement for cellular phone service has found a niche in the popular consciousness The question ldquo Can you hear me now rdquo suggests that with this system reception is good anywhere in the world mdash if you are open to the call This all sounds like a vocation ad mdash not me

Idealistic young people are not the only people who yearn to change the world Committed social workers and politicians share that desire as do scientific and medical researchers Parents always say that they want a better world for their children Teachers too seek to equip students with the skill

There are various ways of playing follow-the-leader In this simple child rsquo s game the challenge is Can you do what I do Since leaders seldom give up being leader this can become the game You rsquo re not as good as I am At other times follow-the-leader is more serious than childish compe

Today is the official conclusion of the Christmas season For many it may be a rather sad time Gone are the brilliant lights that added warmth and lightheartedness to our lives gone the pleasant aromas of holly and pine gone the greetings of love peace and joy It is time to go back to ordinary

The very first reading for the First Sunday of Advent included a promise that all nations would stream toward the mountain of the Lord rsquo s house Is 2 2 Today we see this promise fulfilled Magi from the East arrive to pay homage to the newborn king Though the Gospel does not say much about t

Family-oriented sitcoms may produce a good laugh but they do not always model healthy relationships They often feature children who regularly outsmart their parents or parents who are preoccupied with their own interests and neglect their children The media even grant awards to programs that hig