The word “eleémosuné” is probably not in most people’s everyday vocabulary.  I wrote my master’s dissertation on this Greek word at The Catholic University of America. 

To be the “salt of the earth” means to give flavor, preserve, and purify the world through the Gospel. It involves influencing others positively, drawing out the best in them, and remaining firm in faith. It means serving courageously, especially the poor and marginalized, despite effort, resistance, and cost.

When we celebrate the foundation of the Vincentian community on January 25th, we can be attentive to the fact that it occurs on the Solemnity of the Conversion of St. Paul.  Both events direct our attention to important beginnings and I like to think of them together.

Sometimes somebody important to us says something to us which we never forget: a parent, a family member, a friend or a teacher. 

Of all the secular stories that one gets offered during the Christmas Season, “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens stands forward as my favorite. 

So many of the adventure movies today present to us a person who has a “secret identity” behind which he/she hides his/her special gifts and purpose.  This enables them to avoid attention and lead some version of a normal life.

John the Baptist holds an important place in our Advent preparations.  For most of us, the most common instruction that we hear from John at this time is that simple “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” 

Two weeks before Thanksgiving each year (on Wednesday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time), our daily liturgy offers the story of the ten lepers whom Jesus cures.

Can a day go by when we are not driven to wonder, “Why did God let this happen?” 

Jesus lived in a patriarchal society.  A woman depended upon a man to protect her rights—a father, a husband, a son.  A widow could be in a particularly vulnerable position.