Is love stronger than death? What an arduous, soul-changing task it is to test for ourselves the answer to this question.

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Nov. 7 (Year B) 1 Kings 17:10-16; Psalm 146; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44

Elijah’s request might have seemed a bit presumptuous and insensitive to the poor widow at Zarephath.

If someone were to ask you who Mary Magdalene was, what would you tell the person?

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Oct. 31 (Year B) Deuteronomy 6:2-6; Psalm 18; Hebrews 7:23-28; Mark 12:28-34

The majority of the most beautiful and profound teachings in our world are brief, concise, and simple — but seldom easy.

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Oct. 24 (Year B) Jeremiah 31:7-9; Psalm 126; Hebrews 5:1-6; Mark 10:46-52

Without hope people and nations wither and die. With a hope-filled vision, all things are possible.

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Oct. 17 (Year B) Isaiah 53:10-11; Psalm 33; Hebrews 4:14-16; Mark 10:35-45

“It was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain.” These words should leave us a bit — maybe even a lot — uneasy and puzzled.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Oct. 10 (Year B) Wisdom 7:7-11; Psalm 90; Hebrews 4:12-13; Mark 10:17-30

Daily financial reports are the lifeblood of the economy. We receive constant reports of the current market value of stocks, natural resources and precious metals. Fortunes rise and fall on fluctuations in their value. One quotation we will never find, however, is the value of wisdom.

Having seen many performances of Shakespeare’s play, I have heard many actors’ interpretations of Hamlet’s response to the seemingly-innocent question: “What do you read, my lord?” With dry irony, or with bitterness, weariness, humour or biting sarcasm, Hamlet replies: “Words, words, words.” Like his author, Hamlet had reason to be fed up with words, and reason to be entranced with them.  So have we all.

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Oct. 3 (Year B) Genesis 2:7ab, 15, 18-24; Psalm 128; Hebrews 2:9-11; Mark 10:2-16

When the ancients wanted to teach about life, they told stories. These stories were well-seasoned with symbols and layers of meaning. And they were not at all bothered by inconsistencies, repetitions and apparent contradictions.

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sept. 26 (Year B) Numbers 11:25-29; Psalm 19; James 5:1-6; Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

Leading the Israelites through the wilderness was too great a burden to rest solely on the shoulders of one man.