by Fr. Jim Chern
One of the things I’ve always loved about Jesus’ parables is how down-to-earth they are. He doesn’t talk over people’s heads—he uses stories about seeds, soil, lost coins, and sheep. Stuff ordinary people actually deal…
This weekend, our nation marks an extraordinary milestone: 250 years since the birth of the United States.A quarter of a millennium ago, in the sweltering heat of Philadelphia, a group of men gathered and did…
About seventeen years ago, I was attending the FOCUS National Staff Training in Champaign Illinois. FOCUS stands for the Fellowship of Catholic University Students. That’s where I first met Father Mike Schmitz, long before his…
What are you afraid of? A few years ago, I came across an article about cancer specialists and end-of-life conversations. The article explained that many doctors hesitate to tell terminally ill patients the full truth…
One of the more awkward moments in the Gospel comes right at the beginning of today's reading. Matthew tells us that Jesus looked out at the crowds and was moved with pity for them because…
A few years back, a story out of Russia made international headlines. It’s the kind of story that sticks with you—not just because it’s bizarre, but because it’s heartbreaking. A woman named Fagilyu Mukhametzyanov, age…
One of the most memorable experiences of my time as chaplain to college students happened about seven years ago — in one of the most rugged, forgotten corners of Appalachia, Kentucky. Ten students from Montclair…
There’s a moment in life that sneaks up on you. I don’t know exactly when it happened to me, but I know it did. Somehwere around turning fifty -give or take it hit me: I…
A few years ago, a rescue diver from the United States Navy made a sobering observation after years of pulling people from the water. He said the most dangerous part, isn’t the instant someone first…
If you spend enough time around college students, you end up learning things you never saw coming. I’m 52 years old and after nearly 27 years as a priest, I somehow now know that if…