Today we remember. We remember those who have given their lives in military service. We remember those who embarked on a career that was guaranteed to put their life at risk. It is easy to miss the individual as we hear about conflicts, battles, successes and setbacks. We can debate the justification of a war or a military action, but at the end of the day, these events are filled with individual people walking into the fray. Several of my friends are in the military in vario

When Moses approaches Pharaoh to ask for the Israelites freedom, his request is simple. Let them go to serve their God. Pharaoh responds that the Israelites need to serve him, and the battle for control begins. Serve. It’s the same demand from each master, but very different realities. Serving Pharaoh means harsh, demanding work in poor conditions. Serving Pharaoh as a slave means you have no control over your life, your choices, or your future. Serving God is another thing a

When I read this, I knew I had to share it with you. It’s a wonderful exploration of God’s will in things that don’t feel like God could will them. “My greatest teachers about the will of God were the women I encountered on the outskirts of Lima, Peru. Their context was urban poverty; their lives much sinned against. When their children died, and many children died, it was often called God’s will or God’s punishment. One night we reflected on that reality in the family catech

May is traditionally known in the Catholic faith as the month of Mary. In this month we celebrate the woman who was chosen to bring the Son of God into the world. She has only a few passages related to her in the Bible, but in each one, we are given an example of how to live a life filled with grace and dedicated to the will of God. To start, she agrees to one of the most overwhelming and intimidating requests I can think of without much information at all. She’s asked to bea