Growing up, I remember having a plastic dagger that seemed very important to me. It was only a toy, but in my imagination it was something precious. I carried it everywhere. I played with it constantly. I even slept with it beside me at night. At that age, it felt like a treasure. Today, I have no idea where that plastic dagger is. I do not miss it. I do not wonder what happened to it. Something that once seemed so important eventually became insignificant. That is how life w

There is something strange about the human heart. It is rarely satisfied with where it is. We wait for something, pray for it, work for it, and finally receive it. For a while, we are happy. Then, almost without noticing, the heart begins looking toward the next thing. On a hot day, we wish for cooler weather. In winter, we miss the warmth. We dream about getting away, and after a few days away, we begin to miss home. When we are young, we cannot wait to grow older. Later, we

There are moments when faith feels strong. We know what we believe. We trust God. We can even encourage others to trust Him. And then there are moments when something happens and we find ourselves asking, “Lord, are You really there? Are You still with me?” St. John the Baptist knew both moments. He had seen Jesus with his own eyes. He baptized Him in the Jordan. He heard the voice from heaven. He pointed to Christ and boldly declared, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away