Archbishop Paul's Reflections

For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Drive out the wicked person from among you” [1 Corinthians 5:12-13].  I would like to clarify a few things concerning these verses to which I alluded in last week’s reflection.  What is the intent here when … Read More

I ended my reflection last week with this quote from 1 Corinthians:  I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with immoral men; not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But rather I wrote to you not to associate with any … Read More

This Sunday — October 7, 2018 — I will be hosting my third live stream on YouTube on the topic of teen relationships. I have painted a very wide stroke of the brush here, encompassing many facets of this rather broad topic. Today I would like to talk about the LGBTQ phenomenon that has appeared in the last five years. … Read More

There is a popular series on Netflix titled, “13 Reasons” which, deals with the topic of teen suicide. In the series the lead character, Hannah Baker, records 13 cassette tapes of herself citing 13 reasons why she decides to take her own life. The series deals with the troublesome dynamics of teen culture, such as sexual abuse, bullying, and drug … Read More

Last week, I encouraged people to attend the services for the Great Feast of the Exaltation of the Precious Cross. As I reflect upon the message of the Cross in these days of the post-feast, I am reminded of a question often asked of me about family life: how does one balance one’s time between school related commitments and the … Read More

On this day seventeen years ago, the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and the airliner crash in Pennsylvania took place, killing thousands of innocent people. Regarding the Pennsylvania crash, some brave people on board prevented the plane from reaching its target. That day drastically changed the way our country operates. Much was done to make … Read More

I often take early morning flights out of Chicago’s O’Hare Airport — sometimes as early as 5:00 a.m.  I am amazed as I watch people in the terminal, many of whom are glued to their I-phones.  Rather than sending a brief text or email and then putting the phone away, they engage in a steady and endless stream of activity.  … Read More

I have told this story many times, so forgive me as I repeat it. A number of years ago, I served as the priest of a parish of new converts who were not accustomed to fasting. Even the idea of fasting before receiving Communion on Sunday was new to them. A father relayed to me that his son, who would … Read More

About 20 years ago, a parishioner asked me if her family could keep the fast on Tuesdays and Thursdays instead of Wednesdays and Fridays. When I asked why she made this request, she replied that it was easier to fast on those days. The simple response on how to fast is to just follow the rules. In doing so, fasting … Read More

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward He was hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But He answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live … Read More