Conception, a natural consideration in this season awaiting a baby’s birth, is not considered this Sunday. It is displaced by a warning from John the Baptist as the Gospel reading. Quite unfortunate, as today, December 8th, is a specific day celebrating conception. It is Mary’s Immaculate Conception. The festive celebration of Mary’s conception happens in … Continue reading “Conception”
Category: Creative Healing Power
Giving Birth To Christ
Advent is a time of pregnancy in which we are patiently waiting with a pregnant Mary each year. As she prepared to give birth to Jesus so we too prepare to give birth to the Christ child in our world. Meister Eckhart, a 14th century mystic, wrote: “What good is it if this eternal birth … Continue reading “Giving Birth To Christ”
New Life
All the world rejoices in the birthing of new life. The faith of followers of Jesus flows from such joy. It is the joy of birth and of rebirth, the Resurrection. The Resurrection is a topic in this Sunday’s Gospel. It proposes that every birth and every rebirth flow from a life-giving Spirit. One celebration … Continue reading “New Life”
To What Percent Am I Open?
Jesus is only passing through Jericho. He doesn’t intend to stay. Zacchaeus only wants to get a look at the man everyone is making a fuss about. He doesn’t intend to have Jesus over for dinner. Beyond what either man intended though something new was created, a friendship. It came into being less from intention … Continue reading “To What Percent Am I Open?”
Healing Power
The Gospels record healing as a life-giving power Jesus shared with people. Among the people with whom he shared his healing power was a young man, the only son of a widow from Nain. As this Sunday’s Gospel relates, the young man had died. Jairus’ daughter and Jesus’ friend Lazarus were two other individuals who … Continue reading “Healing Power”
Memorializing Truth Tellers
A loving Spirit can guide us throughout our lives. Such a Spirit can especially guide us as peacemakers through conflict. Dirk Willems was guided by such a Spirit, as was Ben Salmon, Medgar Evers, Maura Clark, Jean Donavan, Ita Ford, and Dorothy Kozel. Like Jesus, these disciples gave witness to the Spirit of truth and … Continue reading “Memorializing Truth Tellers”