Author Archives: mikedenz

The first 15 verses of the 6th chapter of St. John’s Gospel are the beginning of a great teaching Jesus gives on the Eucharist.  The Gospels tell us of several times where Jesus miraculously multiplied bread to feed a multitude of people.  There are some details to this story that point us to the MassContinue reading “The Mass Foreshadowed…”

Before time began there was nothing but the unchanging God… there was a Family. God the Father was, is and forever will be omnipotent (infinite, without limits, all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), omnipresent (always everywhere), Truth, Beauty and Goodness.  The Father’s idea of Himself, or His one-word expression of Himself, is not just an ideaContinue reading “Before the Beginning…”

In the Gospel of John, chapter 6, after Jesus had fed over 10,000 men, woman and children by miraculously multiplying 5 barley loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus was with His disciples on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. The crowd Jesus had fed followed him across the sea to the townContinue reading “Labor for the Food that Endures for Eternal Life”

Remember that God does not allow suffering to come your way unless it is to help you advance in holiness.  Men go to the gym and put heavy weights in their hands and lift them.  It is hard.  They suffer.  Their arms get sore.  Why do they do this?  To make themselves strong.  God’s graceContinue reading “Keep Your Eyes on Jesus”

Joseph was a tradesmen, a carpenter. He made things out of wood: plows, tables, chairs, ladders and maybe parts of houses. He lived in Nazareth.  Before Jesus was born he traveled to Bethlehem and then Egypt for a short time, but the majority of his life was in a small insignificant town. He wasn’t highly educated. He neverContinue reading “The Ordinary Family?”

My classmates and I in 8th grade had a joke in religion class that if you didn’t know the answer to a question Sister Juliana was asking, answering “Jesus” was usually right.  I have been a teacher of the Catholic Faith for over 22 years now.  Little did I know back in 8th grade how right myContinue reading “The Answer is…?”

What makes something valuable? Is what it’s made of the reason?  Like gold or diamonds or solid oak? Is it because it is beautiful?  Like a sunset or a rose or new sports car? Is who made it the reason?  Like Rembrandt or Rolex or Lamborghini? Is something being rare do it?  Like a stampContinue reading “What is Our Value?”

In the first century when Jesus walked the earth in ancient Israel, Jewish men would often become disciples of a rabbi.  The rabbi disciple relationship was one of total commitment.  The rabbi would commit to instructing the disciple and teach him to be like him.  The disciple would commit to listening and learning whatever theContinue reading “Well surely God doesn’t expect me to do that… does He?”

“Catholic guilt” is a term most of us are aware of.  It has negative connotations which involve being made to feel bad for doing something we are not supposed to do.  Our 21st century society frowns upon being made to feel bad (unless you are feeling bad about doing something our society frowns upon, butContinue reading “Guilt vs. Shame”

It would be hard to find any adult Catholic who does not have a loved one who has left the Catholic Church.  It can be a very difficult thing to deal with.  Here are some important things to remember whenever this happens. God is infinitely more concerned and involved in the salvation of your lovedContinue reading “When a Loved One Leaves the Church”