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
Saturday, Paul’s team played basketball. He loves the game. He understands two things: shooting and defense. He’s not bad on defense. In practice, he never tires of shooting. Sometimes he’s aiming at the raised basket (fifty feet in the air), but he persists. At games, he runs full out and doesn’t seem to tire. He’s all heart. His teammates have learned as has his mother during practice, that he can to some degree, really play. It’s something that his coach... Read more
Since you folks have followed this on Patheos, you deserve an update. I FINISHED MY CHEMO TODAY! YES. Everybody Mambo! Today, I received my chemo crown. I’m done. Hair follicles start your engines. I’m expecting peach fuzz by Easter. Those of you who showed up some place on my face but not on my head, eyelashes or eyebrows, please enjoy your permanent early retirement. Thank you for playing. It seemed appropriate on my last day to meet a woman starting... Read more
So I love watching the Olympics. Summer, Winter, it doesn’t matter, I love the epic unpredictable nature of all the sports upon sports upon sports. Some of my favorites include the snowboarding and the freestyle skiing and Super G, in addition to the ice dancing and the Nordic Combined. Having watched the Olympics every night for multiple nights, the same question formed in my head that always remains unanswered. How do the mothers cope with this reality before it is... Read more
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