A Faith Lived
Thoughts on the Second Readings by Joe Frankenfield
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27
Ted Kennedy’s death this week reminds us of the good one person can accomplish. Granted the extraordinary opportunities that his family background and high political office afforded him, his extraordinary energy and willingness to put himself out for others’ [...]

Unfolding Revelation Thoughts on the Second Readings by Joe Frankenfield 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Ephesians 5:21-32
Once every year, when I was growing up, the pastor at Mass would read from Ephesians where Paul counsels wives to subordinate themselves to their husbands. I can still hear my father say to my mother as we were [...]

Called To Get On With It
Thoughts on the Second Readings by Joe Frankenfield
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Ephesians 5:14-20
The-world-is-going-to-hell-in-a-hand-basket conversations are a favorite sedentary recreation. The young cite the previous generation for trashing the universe. The middle-aged bemoan the stupidity of political, economic or religious powers. The old are sure that the youngsters will never measure [...]

Imitating God: Finding Ourselves
Thoughts on the Second Readings by J. Frankenfield
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Ephesians 4:30-5:2
Normally we’d dismiss someone who suggested that we act like God as a nut. How absurd! How could anyone imitate God? Still, Jesus taught this. So did Paul. What were they thinking?
One of the most famous, most loved paintings in [...]