Category: Connecting Point

Are we naturally creatures of responsive love or are we reactionary creatures of a variety of emotional responses good, bad and ugly?

Habitual responses can be difficult to break especially in intense situations.  Old habits of responding out of our …

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.

We find this quote in both the first reading and Gospel this Sunday. Jesus quotes the …

This week in the Gospel we have the story of Bartimaeus the blind man. Bartimaeus was healed by Jesus because of his faith. Before he met Jesus Bartimaeus was blind from birth and grew up a beggar. Bartimaeus’ blindness kept …

Who do I look up to for their humility, and how can I learn from them?  Like most people, I look especially to people in my own profession. The priests, parish priests in particular, who have best exemplified this virtue …

The school year has begun!  Our families dive into the many different communities; school, athletic, and dance; just to name a few. We will spend what we need to in order to be a member of these communities.  We will …

How can I let go of my selfish desires to support marriage covenants?

The Scripture this week allows for reflection on the beauty of the covenant between Adam and Eve and on the Sacrament of marriage.

My wife and I …

When am I so focused on what I’m doing that I miss the service of others?

In our own lives, we get wrapped up in our day-to-day routines, family, work, exercise, technology, etc. that we miss opportunities to perform good …

This Sunday’s readings involve Jesus telling his disciples how they should receive others. The disciples were arguing about who should be considered first. Then Jesus put a child in their midst and their attitude changed because who would reject a …

In our Second Reading this weekend, St. James insists that authentic Christian Faith is always accompanied by good works.  We are not saved by faith alone.  We are not saved by works alone. We are saved by faith and works …

When do fear and ignorance cause deafness in me?

Fear is the anticipation of the possibility that something unpleasant will occur. Some types are actually due to ignorance or a lack of knowledge or understanding”.

For some of us, the …

“How does my instinct to criticize others limit my awareness?”

Sometimes the noise of everyday life can blind us to the positive ways many things are changing around us.  It’s easier to want to criticize when we see something new …

Many of us have difficulty dealing with unpleasant situations. We look for ways to avoid confrontations and conflict. In today’s Gospel, and over the past few weeks, Jesus challenged his disciples and not many could accept it. Can we?

In …

Sometimes I pretend not to know the truth or ignore a situation instead of helping.
Sometimes when I see an injustice, I look the other way.
I think most can admit that we have done this at some point, right?…

“How can I give life to a lifeless situation?”

Have you ever taken a walk at night with only a flashlight to guide you?  If so, you have seen the power that a small light can provide. Living as creatures …

What difference does the Eucharist make in my life?

I am a Jesuit (Society of Jesus) priest. We were founded in 1540 by St. Ignatius of Loyola and his companions.  Ignatius, our first superior general, was from the …

“When have I seen small gifts make a big difference?”

Sitting next to a volunteer at a meeting recently, the elderly woman said to me, “I only help out one hour a week; I don’t really make a difference.”  I …

“Where is my place to be alone with God?”

As I reflected on the Connecting Point this week, I thought instead of reflecting on where my physical place is to be alone with God, I would share my thoughts through …

I’m sorry. We use that expression often in our daily conversations; but asking for forgiveness is sometimes more difficult. There’s an implied admission that maybe, just maybe, we were wrong. It could have been because of our own actions or …

We live in a country that values achievement and success. In trying to be successful sometimes, our weaknesses come out and expose us to the world. In this Sunday’s readings St. Paul says, “Through the power of Christ we are …

Hurt, pain, & suffering, these are things that nobody likes to face. We try to avoid them as part of the human condition but also know that they are unavoidable. At any given moment there are people in my life …

Today the Church celebrates the Nativity of John the Baptist, whom Jesus himself called “the greatest man born of a woman.” (Matthew 11:11).  John’s greatness lied in the fact that Jesus was the focus of his life. He drew people …

In what small ways can I honor a father?

Our parents play a very special role in our lives.  Often times, they are the people who teach us right from wrong.  They are the people who instill a work ethic.  …

You hear the term a house dived a lot when Michigan and Michigan State play each other and if you have family members that attended both schools under the same roof. What team do you root for?

Now think about …

“When I grew up …” is the beginning of many stories among family and friends.  One of my favorite stories of when I grew up was when we came together as a family at the table for a meal. With …

Fortunately, I grew up in a Catholic household nurtured and knowing from my earliest memories that God loves us very much and very perfectly.  He loves us even in moments when we aren’t necessarily “lovable”. ..and yes, even when we …

There is so much awesome power in the Holy Spirit! And on Pentecost, the birthday of the Church, we celebrate that power. Power, at its simplest, is the ability to do something, to act, to accomplish. Another way is that …

It is not just in our “modern day” that we are discouraged from speaking up and defending the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In my early days in the workforce, it was a long established “rule” that you didn’t discuss politics …

Judas betrayed him. Peter denied him. Thomas doubted him.

Through all this Jesus still loved them. Jesus showed us how we are given the call to be “friends of God.”  That friendship includes putting others before ourselves, seeking ways to …

How can I grow in confidence to support others who need to know God?

In order for us to “bear fruit” and be his disciples, we must support others who need it; who need to know God’s love.

Growing up …

Jesus included everybody! Shepherding today requires paying attention: one of the clearest features of Jesus’ pastoral style is the way He included people that each person is not left out: he included criminals, the “unclean” and people who were outcast …

This weekend we hear the story of Jesus being made known through the breaking of the bread. Here Jesus was standing in the midst of the same disciples who were with him just days earlier before his passion, yet they …

On Divine Mercy Sunday, we celebrate the boundless mercy of God, who throughout history has forgiven those who have turned away. Jesus preached forgiveness extensively in his ministry, enshrining it in the prayer he taught his disciples. God’s mercy is …

In the celebration of Adult Baptism, the person being baptized is immersed under water three times, symbolizing the three days that Christ was in the tomb!  In Baptism, we die with Christ and rise with him to new life.  The …

“Mr. Rogers Neighborhood”

In these troubled times, it is not difficult to encounter someone who is weary.  But do we always see them?

The weary ones are all around us…at work, in school, at the market, on the street corner, …

“How do I let go of self-center ways to become the best version of myself?”

Feelings come and go. Human emotions can sometime control you; leaving you to feel worry, fear, and self-centerness. God calls us to let go of …

This, I believe, is not just a difficulty for “church professionals” but for people in general. We use phrases so often that the phrase loses the significance it should have in our lives. We sing, pray and proclaim the “Glory …

Jesus could no longer tolerate people taking advantage of others in the temple area, so much so, that he made a whip out of cords and drove them all out.  He even spilled the coins of the money changers and …

How can my living reflect God’s Light?

In this Sunday readings, we hear about Christ’s light and how it should reflect on others. Christ’s glorified body and the dazzling light are revealed to the disciples that followed Jesus up the …

My friends who run marathons take their physical fitness seriously throughout the year.  They incorporate physical exercise routines and healthy eating into their daily lives.  However, as a marathon draws near, they step things up a notch.  In order to …

This week we hear another story of Jesus going about preaching and healing. After this particular instance, he goes off to pray. When the apostles find him and suggest they need to go because “everyone is looking for you.”

While …

In this past Sunday’s Gospel, we hear about Jesus’ authority. Jesus is in the temple preaching, teaching, and driving out demons. He is asking us to bring all of our desires and worries to him so that he can guide …

Do you remember that moment in your life when you felt Jesus truly present to you? Perhaps it was at your Confirmation or when you married or when you had your first child. It was at that moment that you …

Today we reflect on how we were led to the vocation we have pursued over our lifetime. Some of us have taken many different roads that have brought us to where we are in our lives. We have all been …

At Epiphany, the Church honors the Three Kings (Astrologers) from the East. Our modern culture glamorizes them. They were looking for the New Born King; they recognized His Sign – the STAR. Yet, my personal opinion prevents me from calling …

Without Jesus, there would be no Christmas.
Where would we be without Christmas?
More importantly, where would we be without Jesus?
Our families are not perfect.
Although Christmas is supposed to be one of the most joyful times of the …

“Be not afraid!” are the very first words with which the angel greets the lowly shepherds as they keep watch over the sheep in the dead of night. They are also the first words the angel Gabriel addressed to the …

Most of the times, what we really need is only a heart of surrender and always trust what God has plan for our life. Doing the best we can and letting God take the rest is what we call FAITH. …

“How can I be a radical witness to my faith?”

Being Christian, specifically being Catholic, is becoming less and less acceptable in today’s society.

Being radical in today’s world may be as simple as being intentionally faithful in our everyday.…