On this fourth Sunday in Advent we share in the lives of two women, Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, both soon to give birth to sons. In communion with them, we too feel an “infant in (our) womb leap for joy” and we too are “filled with the Spirit.” Together, we wonder “how does this … Continue reading “Pro-Life Christmas: Giving Birth”
Category: Creative Healing Power
A Pro-Life Christmas: Women’s Wisdom
This Third Sunday in Advent has a Gospel reading that once again focuses not on Mary but on John the Baptist. It includes John being sought out as a wisdom figure. The last of the people seeking wisdom are men paid to be violent, soldiers. They ask John, “And what is it we should do?” … Continue reading “A Pro-Life Christmas: Women’s Wisdom”
A Pro-Life Christmas: Women
The season of Advent has arrived. Advent means arrival and thus during Advent peacemakers prepare with Mary for the arrival of her baby, Jesus. Except that liturgically speaking, based on the usual Gospel readings for the season, we do not. Little attention is given to Mary and instead to John the Baptist. How is it … Continue reading “A Pro-Life Christmas: Women”
Silence and Speech
A man who lives in silence, “a deaf man who has a speech impediment,” is brought to Jesus. His friends “beg Jesus to lay his hand on him” and heal him. Jesus does so by “putting his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue.” Jesus then says, “Be opened!” – and immediately … Continue reading “Silence and Speech”
Born and Unborn
Sunday’s readings celebrate John the Baptist and the sanctity of his life. They speak much of wombs; “The Lord called me…from my mother’s womb.” The Lord “formed me as his servant from the womb.” “(Y)ou knit me in my mother’s womb.” “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant (John) leaped in her womb.” It is … Continue reading “Born and Unborn”
Fruitful Care
This Sunday’s first reading concerns the conversion of Saul to Paul, from being a persecutor of disciples to being a disciple. Saul has been befriended and healed by disciples in Damascus. He joins them in their fruitful ministry. Paul then feels the need to join with disciples in Jerusalem. But the Jerusalem disciples know Paul … Continue reading “Fruitful Care”
There Is No Salvation
Peter has performed “a good deed done to a cripple.” He has healed him. Peter does not take credit for doing so. He says the man has been healed “in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean.” Peter then makes a statement that has unfortunately been twisted in its meaning. He says, “There is no … Continue reading “There Is No Salvation”
The Challenge To Change
Mary Magdalene met the challenge to change. She had been driven mad by a demon world that subjected her to madness; the madness of oppression, the madness of suffering. Her mad way of coping with that madness needed to end. She needed to die to that old madness if she was to have a new … Continue reading “The Challenge To Change”
Innocence Is a Radiant Journey
The story is told of those who are wise making a journey toward a star, a radiance in the sky. They know not where their journey will take them. They believe they know who it will take them to. They journey toward an innocent child; one they think is destined to be king. Along the … Continue reading “Innocence Is a Radiant Journey”
Remarkable Arrival
It is seemingly remarkable that it is not always Jesus’ birth arrival, Advent, that is emphasized in readings during Advent. Leading up to Christmas, it is just as often, if not more often, that Jesus’ arrival into public life is emphasized. One result is a greater emphasis not on Mary but on John the Baptist. … Continue reading “Remarkable Arrival”