Acts 17:16-34

As was the usual custom, Paul first taught in the Jewish synagogues upon his arrival in Athens. From there, he also taught in the marketplace where he came across some interesting people. Luke tells us that Paul had become “distressed” about the number and magnitude of “idols” in the city, for in the first century, Athens had become a center of art and philosophy; it was no longer a political center as it had been in centuries past, thus aspiring artists and philosophers traveled there to seek their destinies from all over the region.

While in the marketplace, he came to discuss his new ideas with Epicureans and Stoics who disputed both Paul and each other, as was their custom, but we should note that their disputations were collegial rather than hostile, which quite frankly is the key to understanding this text, particularly because in our time, collegial…

A long-time friend talked about how he was terrified of my dad when he used to come to some of our family events.  He noted that he felt this way because my dad hardly ever said a word.  That made him nervous.  When my dad passed away at the beginning of 2008, he was surrounded by his family and still didn’t say very much.  His life-long introversion, however, did not stop him from making a huge impact on all of our lives.  During his senior year of high school, he joined the Merchant Marines to help do his part in WWII.  He was part of both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters.  When he returned, he married his childhood sweetheart and they began to have a family.  He supported us first by working as a truck-driver until he hurt his back.  Then he drove bus until the company he drove for…

I was just reading some things on my social media places . . . one about an old lady drawing fish with crayons and cutting them with kid scissors to decorate a church school room.  Jesus looks like that.  I saw a man from church who brought his autistic grandson with him.  The boy kept loudly greeting people, whether it was time to speak or quiet time.  Jesus looks like that.  I saw a friend with health challenges mowing and weeding my lawn because he was aware of MY challenges. Jesus looks like that.  

In light of the constant news reports of shootings and hate in the world and near each one of us and those we love, it would be easy to lock the door, latch the gate, hide ourselves . . . we try to fool ourselves into thinking the bad things happen to “other people” but

He who finds a wife finds a good thing (Proverbs 18:22)

This past Thursday, my wife, Betty and I celebrated our 44th wedding anniversary.  It seems hard to believe that so much time has passed since that memorable day.  We were married at the Cathedral of the Pines in New Hampshire–a beautiful location overlooking Mt. Monadnock.  With an outside venue, we prayed fervently that it would not rain.  That prayer was answered.  We forgot to be more specific, however, as the day was cloudy, just below 50 degrees and very windy.  Our poor ring-bearer was so cold he had to go to the bathroom just before the ceremony.  Without time to find a bathroom, one of the ushers found a nearby tree for the little guy to relieve himself.  The wind was so strong, that the singer’s voice was mostly blown away.  And Betty’s veil frequently was blowing in a straight line away from her head.  But, in…

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The Old Homestead

God works all things for good for those who love Him. (Romans 8:28)

I was very fortunate growing up to have had a mother and father who loved me and my sisters very much and did all that they could to prepare us for the lives we would lead. My mother’s family was strongly Catholic, while my dad was a non-practicing Protestant. In those days, the Catholic Church would not marry a Catholic with a non-Catholic in the church proper. So my parents got married in the church vestibule. In addition, they both had to agree to raise any children they might as Catholics. So, I grew up in the Catholic Church. I was an altar boy and a part of the CYC (Catholic Youth Council). I was baptized, had my First Communion, and was confirmed. I then attended Holy Cross, a Catholic college run by Jesuit…