In the field of Social Psychology, we learn that people who have a strong social support system are more likely to overcome any adversity that comes their way. At-risk individuals are less likely to succumb to peer pressure, become addicted to drugs, involved in gangs, drop out of school, and other such negative outcomes if they have people in their lives that they can rely on. Why do I mention this? Because studies show that good friends make a positive difference in our liv

So my husband and I have gotten hooked on a CW show called "Supergirl." On the episode we were watching, Supergirl is exposed to red kryptonite which brings out her darkest, meanest, and angriest self. She threatens the life of her controlling and self-centered boss, lashes out at her foster sister for always hovering over her, puts down the ex-girlfriend of her crush, and terrorizes the city with her wrath. In sum, our hero turns into a villain and loses the trust of the cit

The daily reading today came from John 6:22-29. The crowd that Jesus had just fed through His miracle of the multiplication of loaves noticed that Him and His disciples were gone, so they got on boats to find Him. Jesus tells them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For o

Today, we, the Church, celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord which is where Angel Gabriel appears to the young Mary and announces that she would become the Mother of Our Lord, Jesus Christ! Skydiving, climbing Mount Everest, and saving a burning village just doesn't seem as daunting as being the Mother of God. Angel Gabriel's first words to Mary were, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you" (Luke 1:28). Mary, however, was "troubled at what was said and pon