Is it too early to be joyful? Fr. Matt Stewart, SJ, reflects on what it means to be joyful, even when we are still waiting for the Lord. Based not the readings for Sunday, December 13, 2020. “Joy to the world, the Lord has come!” What? Too soon? I’m Father Matt...
Sitting in my warm room, it’s difficult for me to get the motivation to brave the cold. Even running down the road to the local grocery can feel like a burden. Yet, as I pray over the Gospels, I am reminded of the effort and resolve demanded of people who wanted to be...
This article contains some spoilers for Parasite (2019) and Hillbilly Elegy (2020) Netflix’s recent drama Hillbilly Elegy has gotten a lot of flack for its portrayal of poverty in rural America: critics have called it “exploitative”, “condescending”, “terrible”, and...
Jesus wasn’t what people expected. What do we expect from Jesus? Christopher Alt, SJ, reflects on John the Baptist’s message of repentance and the importance of checking our expectations. Based on the readings for Sunday, December 6, 2020. A friend once...
At seven years old, I told my mother I’d think about being a priest when I grew up, “if they still needed them.” And at twelve, I was convinced I was supposed to be a priest and dove headfirst into my faith. Two years later, I had no interest in priesthood or...
St. Francis Xavier and St. Ignatius were best friends. Their mission both separated them and kept them close when they were separated. Ian Peoples, SJ, reflects on true friendship on the Feast of St. Francis Xavier. What if your best friend is a saint—and so are you?...
A few months ago, a friend introduced me to WeCroak. It’s an app for my phone, and it’s premise is simple. According to its ‘about’ page: “In Bhutan they say that contemplating death five times daily brings happiness.” So five times a day, with no discernible...
COVID-19 is not the first pandemic of our lifetime. But we’re certainly acting like it is. Missteps, misinformation, and pandemic-fatigue have propelled the virus into a brutal new wave of infections in the United States and elsewhere around the world. Have we...
As a Jesuit Brother, one of the questions I am most frequently asked by non-Jesuits is if I am a priest. When I answer that no, I am not a priest, the next most frequently asked question is when I am getting ordained. After I explain that I am neither a priest nor in...
The Advent season has begun! Martin Ngo, SJ, reflects on the fact that we aren’t so good at waiting, but God can use this time to shake us back to our senses and change our hearts. Based on the readings for Sunday, November 29, 2020. But mommy, I want it now!!!...
