There are times, usually in the dead of night, when worry comes to visit. She is like a cat, small but skittish and will not be put at ease no matter what is done to calm her. She soon has everything in tatters – my trust, my hopes, my very guts seem torn to shreds. … Continue reading “Today”
Category: Love
Loving Our Enemies
This Sunday’s Gospel includes an unparalleled teaching by Jesus; love your enemies. This teaching surpasses the Golden Rule; do unto others as you have them do unto you. The Golden Rule is a challenge but it does not effect the same transformation in the world as does Jesus’ commandment to love our enemies. Loving our … Continue reading “Loving Our Enemies”
Salt and Light Within
While visiting lately with much older friends I heard them express feelings of sadness, even grief. They spoke tearfully of injustices and suffering in the world, specifically in the U.S. They had done their best to alleviate that suffering throughout their lives and saw significant change happen. Now, from walkers and wheelchairs, they were watching … Continue reading “Salt and Light Within”
Love and Justice
As important as justice might seem for disciples it gives way to the more important virtue of love. This truth is exemplified in Sunday’s Gospel when John the Baptist gives way to Jesus. John revealed a just God. John’s god was concerned with denouncing sinners and cleansing the world of evil. As it was time … Continue reading “Love and Justice”
Family
Family is indeed under assault by the U.S. culture. Though not by the forces its conservative members assert. Family is not under assault by people who love each other, no matter their gender or ethnicity, their religion or lack thereof. People who love each other teach us how to care, how to be compassionate, and … Continue reading “Family”
Faith
Faith is more than what various Old Testament authors would have us believe. For example the prophet Habakkuk writes during a time of trouble, “Why do you not intervene, Lord?” Habakkuk would have us believe faith is believing in a distant deity we want to have help us in a time of need. Jesus describes … Continue reading “Faith”
Mercy and Compassion
Some diversions from Christ Jesus’ Way are obvious, others more subtle. Worshipping a golden calf, today’s first reading, would fit the obvious category. Losing ourselves to a life of greed, abuse, or various superficialities would as well. What about subtle diversions? Diversions so slight we are unaware of having gone astray. Years go by, even … Continue reading “Mercy and Compassion”
Service
Jesus teaches disciples about service in this Sunday’s Gospel. People to whom Jesus was of service were usually those others judged to be sinners. They were people who were sick, poor, Gentiles, women. In truth though, Jesus was of service to anyone in need. The service Jesus extended to others was the service he called … Continue reading “Service”
Prayer
Prayer is a routine and vital ingredient of Jesus’ life. The Gospel record shows Jesus frequently going off to be alone in prayer. It also shows him frequently teaching the disciples how to pray. This Sunday’s Gospel has a few such teachings and includes Jesus’ simple yet profound and indeed revolutionary prayer to Abba. Jesus’ … Continue reading “Prayer”
Presence
Presence is our awareness of ourselves as a gift. We are beautiful and our Creator is in love with us. We respect that love relationship as the abiding communion of our lives. It’s a loving communion we share with others who are also gifts, also beautiful, and also beloved. We risk living intimately, in touch … Continue reading “Presence”