We don’t know how we would have acted in the heated moment. We only know how the people in the heated moment acted. It’s rather like Portia in “The Merchant of Venice,” who can speak with glorious beauty about the greatness of God’s mercy until she has Shylock in her mercy. She then shows none. This weekend, we saw the play and I have to admit, I’d only read snatches of it in my studies, so I knew very little... Read more
“She would have to be a saint because that was the occupation that included everything you could know; and yet she knew she would never be a saint…. but she thought she could be a martyr if they killed her quick.” ― Flannery O’Connor, A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories I think Flannery would laugh at the Goodread hashtag of sainthood with this quote. This quote isn’t so much about sainthood as it is about sinning. It is... Read more
Credit to Lokman Sevim Sorry I’ve been awol. In rebooting my computer, I needed to address some security issues and that locked me out of the administration element of this blog. It took me a weekend to figure out what to do, and another week before I got around to doing it…during which time I had surgery to remove the chemo port. I declare Victory of Battle No. 3 against cancer. (Victory No. 1 Biopsy/detection. Victory No. 2 Mastectomy) Now... Read more
Wrote this last Friday before I hopped on a plane to visit family in Texas on Saturday. This week is Holy Week. The one thing we should know is, we are not ready. Lent reminds us annually of our fallen nature. If we succeed in our Lenten resolution, we will be tempted to boast of our success, even years after, and lose the lesson. If we fail in our Lenten resolution, we will be cognizant of our weak willed and... Read more
We are an Easter People who remember, we are also dust. We are both and. Because we are both and, we must see the reality, the humanity of those who suffer, as our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is the reality Jesus reveals to us with the stories of the Good Samaritan, with the healing of the ten lepers when only one comes back to give thanks. We are to offer forgiveness and mercy irrespective of whether or not... Read more
First, a very good piece by my friend, Simcha: Go Ahead, Give up Chocolate for Lent. Next, my piece on Lent, if you need ideas other than giving up chocolate: 40 Ideas for What to Give up For Lent. Lent is a time to work on one’s relationship with God and neighbor, and to fast from that which keeps us from God and our neighbor. The reality is, we attach ourselves to our appetites, our idols, our aspirations, our honors. ... Read more
Image Credit: Gregory Gresko The man embracing the foot of the cross in the Ukraine made the rounds of Catholic Twitter yesterday. I’ve been thinking of that image as I fall into my habit of consuming news like popcorn when world events feel too big to endure. What is the path to peace without appeasement? What is the right way to get the Russian army to leave and allow for the struggles and trials of self governance? Will we stand... Read more
Seriously, pray for peace. Pray for the world. Pray for all in the path of this unnecessary war. Pray for everyone trying to stay. Pray for everyone trying to leave. Pray for the Russian people protesting in the public square. Pray for the Russian Platoons who opted to go awol, surrender or lay down their arms rather than kill Ukranians. Pray for all who know and love someone in the Ukraine. a Pray. Pray for those who declare themselves our... Read more
So this week, Jesus asks us to love our enemies. Who are our enemies? Those cheaters? That country? My government? The Anti-whatever I’m for? The party I don’t for? The people who think the party I vote for is evil incarnate? The Pope? The people who hate the Pope? Those who abuse? Those who get away with abuse? Those who defend or hide abuse? Those who use the system? Those who make my life harder? Those who say cruel words?... Read more
This week, while at adoration, I asked God if He still wanted me to be a writer. Today, I discovered a piece I’d written was published –the first of 2022: https://www.ncregister.com/blog/prayer-works. Cue God laughing. Bonus points…I taught students today about Dramatic Irony before I found this out. I love God’s sense of humor, even if I’m the punch line. Read more
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