My grandmother explained to me one time what the Incarnation of Jesus was like. I don't mean the Word becoming flesh, the theological explanation that John's Gospel gives us. She was a simple woman, though a wise one. And a pious one. She just wanted to teach one of her visiting granddaughters about the what … Continue reading A lesson I never forgot
What matters most to me
One day, several years ago, I was sitting in an empty chapel praying and waiting for the families to arrive for the funeral of my cousin's mother-in-law. A man who looked to be homeless, in disheveled, dirty clothing with matted hair to match, approached my pew. His shoes were worn through and he shuffled when … Continue reading What matters most to me
Holy Week meditation
On this Palm Sunday and in the final days of this Lenten season, I thought it was time to share once again this poem I wrote several years ago… Can you see Him? He’s there with that angry mob. No, he’s not he menacing one. He’s the peaceful One, the serene One, the holy One. … Continue reading Holy Week meditation
The antidote to resentment
This morning on my daily walk, I finally listened to the March 31 installment of the Catholic Stuff You Should Know podcast. The young man, Jacob, (a seminarian) who joined Father John (a regular host for years) did a great job telling the audience about Max Scheler and ressentiment. Ressentiment, basically, has to do with … Continue reading The antidote to resentment
No Condemnation
Yesterday's Gospel reading was the story of the woman caught in the act of adultery. Ultimately, it's a story about God’s mercy and about our compassion for one another. And the idea that, if God can forgive us and be merciful toward us and our many faults and many failures, surely we can be the same … Continue reading No Condemnation
Who Else Is In the Field?
“Pray do not imagine, that those who make the noise are the only inhabitants of the field.” - Edmund Burke Often in life it seems it really is true that "the squeaky wheel gets the grease." We may infer from this old proverb that the squeaky wheel is in need of grease. But in real … Continue reading Who Else Is In the Field?
St. Valentine’s Day
In honor of Valentine’s Day and World Day of Marriage (on Sunday), I decided to contemplate this very famous verse from Paul’s 1st Letter to the Corinthians. I’m sure you’ve heard it if you’ve ever attended a Christian wedding. It’s often one of the readings. And it’s easy to see why. It’s a beautiful bit … Continue reading St. Valentine’s Day
What if?
What if we just say Jesus, our Lord & Savior, was Jewish and that He said we should love our neighbor which means everyone? God loves us and wills us into being so every life matters to God. Jesus also tells us we should treat others as we want to be treated. That means we … Continue reading What if?
What the world needs now is…meaning
People need something to live for. Meaning comes with a higher purpose in one’s life. Maybe it’s loving your child and getting them to responsible adulthood. Maybe it’s a spouse who would truly be lost without you. Maybe it’s a career that no one else could navigate as well as you for the sake of … Continue reading What the world needs now is…meaning
Drowning in Lemonade 
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