The midrash portrays this as a flaw. Redemption, it claims, comes because of the merit of the patriarchs—not because of Moses ...

Statue of Moses by Michelangelo in Rome. (Credit: Fr Barry Braum//Unsplash.) Listen The life of prayer is not easy. It’s a tremendous blessing and encouragement, therefore, to see others pray and to ...

At some point in our lives, all of us have had to follow while someone else leads. Whether it be a parent, a teacher or a supervisor at work, we all learn from a young age that taking direction is a ...

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it means that Jesus says, “My yoke is easy and my burden light.” Although today’s readings do not include that line, they resonate with it: The first reading ...

Moses did not make it to the Promised Land because of an incident of angrily striking a rock instead of following God’s orders. Like all humans, Moses was not perfect, yet he was praised for his ...

The Book of Deuteronomy, in general, and the Torah portion, in particular, can be read as a pep talk. Moses, the soon-to-be retiring coach is prepping his team, the Israelites, for its next season.