Advent Comes with Good News, a Promise, and a Challenge
The readings for Advent are filled with good news. Here are a few samples: “Justice shall flourish in his time and fullness of peace forever” … (Ps. 72:7) “In days to come… they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” … (Is. 2:4) “The calf and young lion shall browse […]
The “Unthinkably Brilliant” Web of Existence
One perk in life is having friends who work in a library. They are forever recommending good books for you to read. My library-friend recently recommended this book to me: A God in the House, edited by Ilya Kaminsky and Katherine Tower. The blurb says the book is “a collection of conversations about spirituality and […]
Heal Us, Loving God
I’ve been doing some reflecting on healing these days–not merely the physical kind, but other kinds as well. Here’s a little prayer that arose from my reflecting… “Heal Us, Loving God” Heal us, Loving God, from our tendency to judge others. Remind us that we have no idea what burdens others may be bearing… Heal […]
Time for a Humor Break
Several times a year I devote my blog to humor. After all, humor is good for our physical health. Laughter enhances our intake of oxygen, stimulates our heart, lungs, and other muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by our brain. Laughter is good for our spiritual health too. Even the book of Proverbs […]
A Day in the Life of Jesus
I’m currently reading Into the Mess & Other Jesus Stories by Debie Thomas, a remarkable writer who currently serves as the Minister of Lifelong Formation at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Palo Alto, California. Her book is so rich, I’m not devouring it. Rather, I’m sipping it. Today I’m sharing this sip with you from […]
What I Know about Grief
In the liturgical year, November is the month we remember our deceased loved ones in a special way. November 1 commemorates All Saints, while on November 2 we remember all the faithful departed–not just the canonized saints. It is fitting, then, that we reflect on the experience known as grief, that is, the emotional pain […]
What Good Is It Anyway?
One of the disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to Jesus, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” “What good are these?” Andrew asks. What good are five barley loaves and two fish–when there are so many hungry people […]
“Give This Matter the Attention It Deserves”
I’ve heard that when Rome sends a letter to the Bishops of the world, the letter often concludes with “Give this matter the attention it deserves.” Rome is assuming, I imagine, that all of its matters are deserving of serious and immediate attention. And I’m sure there are many bishops who will put that letter […]
The Gift of the Beauty of Fall
It’s fall where I live in northeast Ohio. Fall is one of my favorite seasons. I associate it with the harvesting of fruits and vegetables, with warm days and crisp, chilly nights, and with the trees donning their array of fall colors: bright yellow, rich orange, deep red, and subdued russet. Yet, fall can be […]
Celebrating World Animal Day
October 4th is World Animal Day. Appropriately, it falls on the feast of St Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis has said this about his patron saint: “St Francis’ response to the world around him was so much more than an intellectual appreciation or economic calculus, for to him each and every creature was a sister […]
