A forum of Catholic Thought

Scripture Reflection for June 29, 2025, Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

Father Joshua J. Whitfield
June 25, 2025

Acts 12:1-11 Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18 Mt 16:13-19 How does one know where to stand? As a Christian, how do you know? What church or denomination should you join, what teaching ...

Scripture Reflection for June 15, 2025, Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Father Joshua J. Whitfield
June 11, 2025

Prv 8:22-31 Ps 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 Rom 5:1-5 Jn 16:12-15 "Remember you're speaking as a Catholic," St. Augustine thundered once in a sermon. But he wasn't talking about the sacraments. He wasn't ...

Scripture Reflection for June 1, 2025, Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

Father Joshua J. Whitfield
May 28, 2025

Acts 1:1-11 Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 Eph 1:17-23 OR Heb 9:24-28; 10:19-23 Lk 24:46-53 It took a while for me to learn why the ascension of Jesus mattered. I mean, on the surface it seems a funny thing, ...

Scripture Reflection for May 18, 2025, Fifth Sunday of Easter

Father Joshua J. Whitfield
May 14, 2025

Acts 14:21-27 Ps 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13 Rv 21:1-5a Jn 13:31-33a, 34-35 In this Sunday's Gospel reading, we are brought back to Holy Thursday, to that dark evening of gift and betrayal and a new covenant. ...

Scripture Reflection for May 4, 2025, Third Sunday of Easter

Father Joshua J. Whitfield
April 30, 2025

Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41 Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13 Rv 5:11-14 Jn 21:1-19 OR John 21:1-14 After Easter, what do we do? Or, to put it another way, what difference does the resurrection of Jesus make? ...

Scripture Reflection for April 20, 2025, the Resurrection of the Lord

Father Joshua J. Whitfield
April 16, 2025

Acts 10:34a, 37-43 Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 Col 3:1-4 OR 1 Cor 5:6b-8 Jn 20:1-9 I often return to Charles Péguy at Easter. One of my favorite poets, his words remind me what it's all about. From ...

Scripture Reflection for April 6, 2025, Fifth Sunday of Lent

Father Joshua J. Whitfield
April 2, 2025

Is 43:16-21 Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 Phil 3:8-14 Jn 8:1-11 Evil isn't a single thread. Rather, it is, to borrow Sir Walter Scott's image, a "tangled web." Lie upon lie, interlocking deceptions and ...

Scripture Reflection for March 23, 2025, Third Sunday of Lent

Father Joshua J. Whitfield
March 19, 2025

Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15 Ps 103: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11 1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12 Lk 13:1-9 This certainly isn't Jesus at his most pastoral. By pastoral, of course, I mean things like kindness, gentleness, speaking ...