An Enduring Voice for the Poor

Don’t forget to wish a happy birthday to Charles Dickens, who turns 199 next Monday – but doesn’t look a day over 40! You may remember the British novelist as one of those “dead white males” you were forced to read in high school, but hopefully you paid attention, because his voice still strikes a relevant chord on issues of poverty, greed, and charity.

A Grandmother’s Love

As anyone who has spent time in Africa can tell you, grandmothers are the unsung heroes in the fight against AIDS. They may not discovery a cure, headline a benefit concert, or legislate for sex education, but they are doing the hardest part – raising their orphaned grandsons and granddaughters whose parents have died of AIDS.

A Life Lesson from Joseph and Mary

When God told Joseph and Mary about the forthcoming birth of Jesus, they could have resisted the news. After all, conceiving a child out of wedlock was a serious matter. But we know they each accepted the noble assignment with tremendous faith and trust. Joseph “did what the angel of the Lord commanded” (Matthew 1:24) and followed through with the wedding.