Good Friday was bad long before it was good, at least from outward appearances.

Growing up by the shores of one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, I never thought of water as a resource needing to be conserved, or an essential commodity over which people would fight wars.

Fr. Ron Rolheiser will be a leader at the 2017 National Catholic Mission, addressing the theme “Our final gift,” based on Fr. Henri Nouwen’s thesis that death can be our final gift to others. Fr. Rolheiser addressed that concept in a 2001 column reprinted here with his blessing.

Passion (Palm) Sunday, April 9 (Year A) Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14-27:66

Speaking and acting on behalf of God is not for the fainthearted.

What is meant when certain schools of psychology warn us about our “shadow”? What’s our shadow?

Fifth Sunday of Lent, April 2 (Year A) Ezekiel 37:12-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45

How can someone be dead and living at the same time?

Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 26 (Year A) 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41

Samuel must have been perplexed and exasperated.

Everything is gift. That’s a principle that ultimately undergirds all spirituality, all morality and every commandment.

Third Sunday of Lent, March 19 (Year A) Exodus 17:3-7; Psalm 95; Romans 5:1-2, 5-8; John 4:5-42

Doubt and fear are very powerful negative forces. All hope, joy, peace and faith flee before them.

All things considered, I believe that I grew up with a relatively healthy concept of God.