Just War Theory – Real Life Application
This past weekend there was the shooting of soldiers in Syria, a shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island, and a shooting at a Jewish celebration in Australia. Clearly, this was not a good weekend. In this article, I offer…
Read More1st Sunday of Advent, Year A Isaiah 2:1-5 Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 Romans 13:11-14 Matthew 24:37-44 November 30, 2025 The birth of Jesus Christ began something new, our salvation. It was his first coming. Recognizing the new beginning brought in Jesus’ birth, today we begin a new year in the…
Read MoreToday is Veteran’s Day. I would like to thank our veterans for their service. Those who have read what I have written about just war theory, especially the wars between Israel and Hamas and Ukraine and Russia, might be surprised to hear me thank veterans. I am not against the military. I am…
Read MoreWe live in a difficult world but we do so with hope from God. That has been a lot happening this week. I offer my thoughts on some of the events of this week below. Peace, Fr. Jeff
Read MoreJesus says in the gospel reading for today, “the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God.” At times people talk about wars as fought on behalf of religion. People have claimed…
Read MoreLast week I discussed what peace is and what it is not in Part I of The Quest for Peace. We seek peace, the peace that is a fruit of Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). We need to let the Holy…
Read MoreYesterday was the third anniversary of the beginning on Russia’s attacks on Ukraine. What we want, what we need is peace. Whether everyone knows it or not, we are all on a quest for peace. War, violence, and terrorism is…
Read More7th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C – Reflection1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13 (8a)1 Corinthians 15:45-49Luke 6:27-38February 23, 2025 Saul was envious of David. Saul was king but David received more praise. In his…
Read MoreDialogue is essential in our quest to see fulfilled what we pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “thy kingdom come, thy will be done.” If we are to do our part towards “thy kingdom come,” we need to help bring the…
Read MoreOn Saturday I found myself wondering how close we were to seeing full scale war in the Middle East. Beginning last fall I have been writing articles on the application of Just War Theory on the conflict between Israel and…
Read MoreAs we begin the new secular year of 2024, I don’t want to talk about resolutions today. It’s not that I think I’m perfect such that I don’t need to make improvements in my own behavior. I know I am…
Read MoreAntisemitism has been a problem for a long time. It is hostility and/or prejudice against Jews. With the present fighting between Israel and Hamas, the news reports that antisemitism is rising across the world. The increase is likely a reaction…
Read MoreI hope I am not sounding like a broken record that keeps repeating itself. Last week I wrote, “What’s It Going to Take to End the Violence.” There I said the answer laid in tears that came from the depths…
Read MoreFor the third week in a row, I find myself beginning a blog article by mentioning the conflict between Israel and Hamas (see “Escalating Conflict,” 10/10/23 and “The Importance of Building Relationships,” 10/17/23). The situation in Israel is important in…
Read MoreLast week I wrote about the escalating conflict between Hamas and Israel. Since then, the fighting has continued with many people injured or killed. It looks like Israel is preparing to go into Gaza with ground troops. Clearly the situation…
Read MoreOne does not have to look far to see that we live in a troubled world. We have been dealing with the Coronavirus for two years now. Right now, the number of cases in the United States has dropped significantly…
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