This New Year’s morning, my attention is caught by the scene over the fireplace. Candles, stars, and angels surrounded the Holy Family: the baby in his mother’s arms, Joseph standing by and looking on with love, Mary “keeping” the message of the shepherds in her heart. “When the fullness of time had come, God sent […]
MARY & MARTHA: FINDING THAT “BETTER PART”
“Martha, Martha…” I always want to jump to Martha’s defense when I read Jesus’ response to her complaint. Her sister has left her to do all the work, and the Lord seems to dismiss her worry. “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried,” he says. “There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the […]
HOW WILL YOU BE REMEMBERED? – Dorcas’ Life of Charity
My great-grandma Jennie’s life is packed inside a single word: “Hallelujah!” She typed that on a thousand tiny strips of paper and tucked them into cracks and books and under dishes as she prayed. She died many years years ago—but even now, finding one of those Hallelujahs brings her back in an instant. Who was Jennie, […]
THE GIFT OF PRESENCE
Every third Thursday, like clockwork, a card arrives. It’s been four years since Mark started the day-long treatments, and there is always a card waiting when he gets home. How do they do it? His sisters. One’s in California, two are in Ohio, and still they figure out how to time a fresh message of […]
THE FRUIT THAT COMES FROM ABIDING IN CHRIST
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit. … By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples” (John 15:5,8) John 15 is one of the best-loved of all the […]
WHOSE WORD DO YOU LISTEN TO?
Maybe Eve was deceived by the Serpent; Adam knew better. Eve had to grapple with the devil himself. All that it took Adam to fall was another offer. Standing with God in the Garden, with nothing to distract from the morning-new glories around him, Adam heard the word of the Lord: It’s all yours, Adam. […]
TRUST IN GOD & IN HIS POWER WITHIN US
The boy pushing the wheelchair stopped at the foot of the steps, unsure of how to navigate them. “There’s only three, I can do it,” said his brother, and carefully stood up from the chair to climb them himself. “It’s a miracle! He can walk!” shouted the first boy. At which announcement, the whole cafeteria […]
WHEN THERE’S NOT ENOUGH OF YOU TO GO AROUND
Sometimes there’s not enough of me to go around. The kids need help. A loved one dies. The dryer breaks, or the car. Taxes are due and a deadline zooms and no, I can’t possibly help you today. My own needs are too great … I’m stretched as far as I can go. Sometimes there’s […]
DO YOU LOVE JESUS … OR ONLY LUV HIM?
How do you get from LUV to LOVE? How do you move from “sure, I love Jesus” to “Lord, I love you!” That’s the question Jesus asked Peter in their post-breakfast heart-to-heart on the shore of the Sea of Galilee: do you (really) love me? Jesus had risen from the dead, and he had just […]
HOW TO GROW AS A DISCIPLE WITH SCRIPTURE
All over the world this week, Scripture is being specially celebrated by Catholics in the first-ever “Sunday of the Word of God.” Parishes will mark the day in various ways. Many will enthrone the Bible in their churches. They will honor and pray for people who teach and translate and study and proclaim God’s word. […]
