It is not easy to be a follower of Jesus. Anyone who thinks it is, is simply not listening to him. Leviticus asks us to be holy like God; Jesus asks us to love like God, who lets the sun shine on the good and the bad.
Distinctly Catholic: Gaudete Sunday anticipates the coming feast, breaking through the penitential season to remind us what is in store at the end of our period of fasting, prayer and almsgiving.
Praying to God in times of joy and sorrow is a natural, human thing to do because it connects men and women to their father in heaven, Pope Francis said.
Book review: Nicole Sotelo was inspired to write her booklet of "reflections, prayers and actions for healing" when a reader noted that forgiveness wasn't covered in her previous work on healing from abuse.
Theology en la Plaza: In a pandemic, social friendship begins with wearing masks. In a political transition, healing requires admission of loss. We owe a sacred obligation to the dead and the living.
Your thoughts: In his latest Soul Seeing column, Michael Leach writes about how he needs to forgive President Donald Trump, no matter how hard it is to do so.
Soul Seeing: Jesus, I want to love like you do, but I need more wisdom and grace to forgive Donald Trump. How do I forgive someone I don't even know but who drives me nuts every time I see him boast and lie and cheat?
Human beings must change their relationship with nature and view it not as an "object for unscrupulous use and abuse" but as a gift they are charged by God to care for and protect, Pope Francis said.
