Photo Credit: Pixabay.com (This post was written before the elections.) I have just participated in my community’s prayer of blessing for poll chaplains of which I am one. The chapel welcomed the sisters who seemed serious and yet serene. We were blest by our leadership to help others in the quest for democracy to continue and to... Continue Reading →
Reflections and Hope for Election Day
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com Last week I suggested we make part of our effort to be people of faith by doing several activities as contributions to peace on Election Day. So, I thought that I would first share the actions I took in this effort. First, I attended the Nuns on the Bus initiative which included... Continue Reading →
State of the Soul During a Stressful Time
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com The American Psychological Association (APA) reports that seven out of ten Americans are depressed, anxious and worried about our coming elections. I don't think you would disagree with that percent if you have joined a family party recently where someone announces, “We don’t talk politics now when we’re together.” Or, if you attend the... Continue Reading →
The Value and Call to Question Scripture
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com I must assert up front that it is not wrong to question Scripture. You do not denounce Scripture by questioning it provided that your questioning leads to research, discussion, and analysis with the assurance of persons steeped in scholarship of the Word. Scripture is meant to teach us and doing so, we... Continue Reading →
What The World Needs Now is …?
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com What does the world need now? Ask this of your friends and associates. I am guessing the top answer today might be ‘peace.’ Others will say, ‘unity.’ Each of these is true; we need each. But is there a durable, constant root answer that actually spawns peace and unity? In 1963, American composer... Continue Reading →
Why We Need Inspiration
Cleveland Guardians Logo As baseball season is ending, I'm happily aware that the Cleveland Guardians are in the Central Division Playoffs of the American League. Some pundits say they have a great chance to go all the way to the World Series. I'm very hopeful for that. If they do get that far, chances are they will face the... Continue Reading →
“Shared Host, Shared Life,” A Look at the Catholic Eucharist
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com I came across an essay in Gerhard Lohfink’s most recent, and sadly his last book, All My Springs Are in You, which I would like to use as a basis for this blog. If you are a consistent reader of the blog, you know that I often use Lohfink’s expressed spirituality and theological thinking... Continue Reading →
Grace, Years, Love and Challenges
Photo Credit: Sisters of Charity, Cincinnati I'm sitting in a chapel pew with my fellow-jubilarians a few weeks ago on a summer Sunday morning as rays of sunlight gently stream through the windows and fall on the gathering crowd below. We older jubilarians are sitting in the front pews because we have walkers and wheelchairs... Continue Reading →
Coming Home: The First Step is Opening the Door and Going Inside
Photo Credit: Wikipedia One of my favorite characters in the Christian Scriptures is Nicodemus, the Pharisee, rabbi, member of the Sanhedrin who stealthily observes Jesus before going to see him in the darkness of night. His story is told only in the Gospel of John. Scripture scholar Fr. Bruce Vawter explains that in this gospel, what seems... Continue Reading →
Joy, Even as Summer Slips Away
Lately the news reports of American life have been getting a bit neurotic as outlets cover the election campaign, now in full throttle. But it strikes me as comforting that one candidate is earning attention as the “joy-filled candidate.” Imagine! A real person being described as a witness to one of the fruits of the Holy... Continue Reading →