Our Starting Point
What started as a graduate school project to provide parishioners of a local Catholic parish with a singular collection of popular commentaries and daily reflections rooted in daily scripture readings evolved into a more traditional Bible study on the Catholic Church’s daily scripture readings. This led to the development of the website, Daily Virtue. After many years of faithful service to the community, the site was attacked by hackers, making it inaccessible, which led to the establishment of a second website, Catholic for a Reason, which you are visiting today. With this change, the site evolved to focus on why Christians like me come to the Catholic Church. Through this transition, the new site retained its tradition of daily reflections on the Daily Readings, thereby remaining true to its original beginnings, driven by St. Jerome’s statement, “Ignorance of Scripture is Ignorance of Christ” while bringing more of the richness of the Catholic Church into focus.
Finding Your (midrich) Guide
In first-century Judaism, young men who aspired to become followers (disciples) of a rabbi underwent a rigorous process of assessment rooted in study, character, and calling. From an early age, boys were educated in the Torah, often memorizing large portions of Scripture.
By their late teens or early twenties, those who sought to become a rabbi’s talmid (disciple) were carefully evaluated. A rabbi assessed a candidate’s knowledge of Scripture, skill in interpretation, faithfulness to Jewish law, moral character, and ability to live according to the rabbi’s teaching. Only those who demonstrated exceptional understanding and integrity were invited to “follow” a rabbi—an invitation that implied leaving one’s former life to learn, imitate, and eventually teach in the rabbi’s name.
Most young men, though faithful and devout, were not chosen and instead returned to family trades, living out the Law in ordinary life. Those selected entered an intense, relational form of discipleship, aiming not merely to learn information but to become like their rabbi.
In continuity with the ancient Jewish tradition of following a rabbi, the Catholic priest today can be seen as one we follow—not as a replacement for Christ, but as a living sign of Christ the Teacher. Through his ordination, the priest is configured to Christ the Head and Shepherd, and he teaches, sanctifies, and guides the faithful in Christ’s name. By listening to his preaching, receiving the sacraments he administers, and allowing our lives to be shaped by the Gospel he proclaims, we become disciples formed within the Church. In this way, the priest serves as a rabbi-like guide who leads us not to himself, but more deeply into imitation of Jesus, the true and eternal Rabbi.
As my faith life and lay ministry developed, I was deeply moved and inspired by the writings and teachings of Fr. Ron Rolheiser, OMI. Through many years of study – seeking a deeper understanding of our faith and the presence of God in our lives today – Fr. Rolheiser has been a guiding light of reason, truth, and inspiration. He has been a daily “rabi-like” guide for me and countless others who seek to understand and grow in the contemplative life. This site, Catholic for a Reason, is dedicated to his influence and dedication to the Catholic Church and the Christian faith.
Daniel M Scofield, MTS