One of Jesus’ favorite lines is “Peace be with you.” He says it again and again in scripture. Actually, this phrase is uttered 14 times by the Lord in the Gospels. We say it every Sunday to one another as we shake, hug or wave across the aisle. What does it mean?
The head of the Vatican office promoting new evangelization said while he does not like the terms "Francis effect" or "Francis bump," it is true that "Pope Francis has touched the hearts and minds of many people."
Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization, said he does not care for the term "Francis effect," since Pope Francis has not changed church teaching.
Opinion: There has been a distinct lack of courage surrounding various people in this digital age. We need to fix that.
Catholic-raised Cole Jacobs is believed to be the youngest Kundalini teacher in the nation, spending his time serving others through yoga.
Column: Mother's Day is almost here. What do you get your mom that lasts longer than flowers or chocolate? Try these books on for size.
Soul Seeing: The brain is a terrible thing. One in four Americans, from babies to retired football players, suffers from a brain disorder each year. And that's just now.
Unless you have been living in absolute isolation for the past year, you know about the “fiscal cliff.” The term is popular shorthand for the financial conundrum that the U.S. government faced at the end of 2012, when the Budget Control Act of 2011 was scheduled to take effect. Hyped incessantly by the media, the so-called fiscal cliff was purported to be an economic Armageddon whose effects would be grave and far-reaching.
I believe each human being has a vision of a new world, a world different from the one in which we’re actually living, a world free from the pain and frustrations we’re daily forced to endure. Such dreaming seems to be an essential trait of human nature.
Practically none of our Scripture writers take pen to papyrus unless there are problems in the communities for whom they write. Surfacing these problems is one of the main tasks of biblical exegetes. There never was a “golden age” of faith; each generation of believers had difficulties putting their faith into their everyday lives, difficulties that continue to pop up generations and centuries later. That’s why people of faith eventually saved these particular writings. They helped them understand the implications and pitfalls of their own faith.
Doesn’t it seem bittersweet that even though we are in the midst of our annual celebration of Easter and all the joys we have in Jesus, the sacred texts call our attention to the suffering that is our lot as believers?
Sign up to get NCR updates by email. Existing users: change your preferences here. Enter your email address in the box below and click “Go.”
Not all of our content is online. Subscribe to receive all the news and features you won't find anywhere else.
