Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the… Read More Frassati Reflection: A Love That Makes Us Uncomfortable

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Remember that Jesus also tells us, in the Gospel of Matthew: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be… Read More Frassati Reflection: Light of the World

The alternate (Year A) Gospel reading yesterday told the story of the blind man healed by Jesus, and the Pharisees’ indignation toward Him for healing on the Sabbath: Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.”… Read More Frassati Reflection: Blind Spots

Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. The prophet sent him the message: “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will heal, and you will be clean.” But Naaman went away angry, saying, “I thought that he would surely come out and stand… Read More Frassati Reflection: The Extraordinary Within the Ordinary

And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. —Matthew 16:18 I used to read this line and picture the Church being battered and attacked by the devil, but ultimately prevailing. But recently it was… Read More Frassati Reflection: Designed for Community

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me. —Matthew 25:35–36 It is easy to compartmentalize “the poor” into a generalized category of people… Read More Frassati Reflection: True Charity

After making the crossing to the other side of the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.… Read More Frassati Reflection: To Be Truly Healed

I wrote the following reflection last year, and I thought it would be appropriate to share today on the feast of St. Bridget: Ignitum Today: St. Bridget: Half Princess, Half Slave, Wholly a Saint Bridget was born half princess, half slave—and what a fitting description this is for our human condition. From her humble origins,… Read More Frassati Reflection: Feast of St. Bridget of Kildare

“…being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 1:6 The conversion of St. Paul is a singular event in which God demonstrated His power to change seemingly hopeless circumstances. Paul was the most unlikely candidate to become… Read More Frassati Reflection: Perseverance and the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul

I’ve started writing weekly reflections for Frassati, and I thought I would post some of them here as well: Last week in my sixth grade catechism class, I had my students play a card game that identified different saints and associated them with a Beatitude that they lived out. When we came to the “Blessed are… Read More Frassati Reflection: Mercy and New Wineskins