When I was a young boy, one of my favorite photos was a picture of John Kennedy, Jr., hiding under his father's desk. Of course, his father was the President of the United States and the desk was in the Oval Office of the White House. I remember wondering what it would be like to have such access to the President. How did it feel to be free to hide under...

The prologue to Psalm 45 identifies it as "A love song to be sung to the tune 'Lilies.' " The text of the psalm lavishly praises the human king of Israel and his royal bride on the occasion of their wedding. As we read Psalm 45, we might well wonder, "How should this psalm inform my life and guide my prayers?" Throughout the centuries, many...

In yesterday's reflection, I began to answer the question, "Why did Christ tear down the 'wall' separating Jews from Gentiles?" Ephesians 2:15 explains that Christ's purpose had two parts: "His purpose was [1] to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and [2] in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross."...

In yesterday's reflection, we saw that Christ destroyed the wall that divided Jews from Gentiles, thus bringing peace and making both groups one. How did Christ actually destroy this wall of separation, this "dividing wall of hostility"? Ephesians 2:15 explains that Christ destroyed this barrier "by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands...