All we need to do is spend a few minutes listening to the news, or perhaps checking our Facebook or Twitter feed and we will find reasons to be afraid: fires burning out of control; storms ravaging communities; unprecedented numbers of refugees; wars and threats of war; economic uncertainty; abuse within the community of faith; gun violence in “peaceful” neighborhoods; devastating illnesses … the list goes on and on. It often seems as if all of life is out of …
by admin At first glance, today’s second reading appears to have two contradictory messages. We are told that we must obey the commandments of Jesus or there is no truth in us; but we are also told that if we sin, Jesus will be our advocate, and what he has done through his death on the cross is already an atonement for anything that we might do. As I pondered this apparent contradiction, I thought of the work of Brene Brown, an …
by admin Many years ago I entered the hospital room of an elderly lady who greeted me with the words, “you shouldn’t have gone to all that trouble for me. I’m so ashamed. I was always been a clean person.” It took me a moment to realize that she was embarrassed because I had to put on a mask, gown and gloves before entering her room. She had tested positive for an antibiotic resistant “superbug.” that she had picked up in the …
by admin “Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term …” The opening words to the reading from Isaiah, set the tone for all of today’s readings. They acknowledge that there is pain in the world and the path of our lives can be filled with obstacles, but they also promise that the hardships and the suffering will not last. God will gather us into his …
by admin