Educating for Lasting Peace

We learn from the story of the Magi that those who are wise seek out peacemakers to be educated by them, ‘We saw the child’s star rising… and have come to follow him.’ We learn from the story of Herod that those who are rulers target peacemakers and lie about being educated by them, ‘Go … Continue reading “Educating for Lasting Peace”

Bringing Home the Lost

When he was 12, Mary and Joseph lost Jesus. “They had journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,” but could not find him. “They returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to … Continue reading “Bringing Home the Lost”

Midwife: To Stand With Life

Midwives ‘stand with’ women who are with child. Midwives guide women in bringing beautiful new life to birth. Elizabeth acts as a midwife to Mary of Nazareth. She guides her young cousin most especially in a spiritual way. One example is by Elizabeth receiving Mary and her baby with great joy. Mary, as any young … Continue reading “Midwife: To Stand With Life”

Midwife: To Stand with All Mothers

To be a midwife is “to stand with,” to guide someone to bring forth life. Bringing forth life can be messy and chaotic and requires we give ourselves to unknowns. But we embrace what is messy and chaotic for we are miracle workers and we step into the unknown. In the vastness of what is … Continue reading “Midwife: To Stand with All Mothers”

Midwife: To Stand With All Fathers

Midwives ‘stand with’ women who are with child. Midwives guide women in bringing beautiful new life to birth. Humanity does not always give witness to the lifegiving spirituality of women, nor to the birthing guidance of midwives. If it did, we would not be grieving Ahmaud Arbery. We would not be imprisoning Travis McMichael. Travis … Continue reading “Midwife: To Stand With All Fathers”

Midwife: To Stand With

Mary is pregnant in difficult times. She embodies the circumstance of so many women across history and across our world. Who will be with Mary through the difficulties? Who will guide her in bringing beautiful new life to birth? Midwives are women who ‘stand with’ pregnant women. Mid is not derived from middle so much … Continue reading “Midwife: To Stand With”

Jesus’ Disciples Do Not Fight

Jesus is forced before Pilate who questions Jesus from a War Lord’s point of view, “Your own nation and chief priests handed you over to me.” But Jesus never belonged to their world; it is the same world as Pilate’s. It is a world of fighting. Jesus rejected it to create a world of healing … Continue reading “Jesus’ Disciples Do Not Fight”

Earlier Immigrant Tribulations

Jesus cautions people about the “tribulation” rulers will cause for them, “Those times will be more distressful than any.” The tribulation focuses on the rulers terrorizing and killing him. But Jesus understand rulers will terrorize and kill commoners of every age. Commoners will face the tribulations with love and courage. Francesca Cabrini, born in Lombardy, … Continue reading “Earlier Immigrant Tribulations”

Molded by Scribes

“Jesus said to the crowds, “Beware of the Scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the market places, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets.” The word scribe means “to write,” and signified the man who was the keeper of laws, accounts, and so forth. … Continue reading “Molded by Scribes”

An Eve and A Day for Saints

In the Old Testament “Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Fear the Lord, your God, and observe… all his statutes and commandments.” In the Gospel when a scribe who is a follower of Moses asks Jesus about Moses’ commandments, Jesus does not tell people to “Fear.” He tells them only to “Love.” To those who … Continue reading “An Eve and A Day for Saints”