Throw your political affiliation out the window! But you’re a loyal Democrat. Or perhaps instead, you’re a loyal Republican. Never mind that. Your political affiliation is not that important. What’s crucially important is your affiliation with Jesus, and your commitment to his campaign – to his divine plan. Are you voting for Jesus Christ? Oh, Read more
How do we comfort others in this digital age? Is a text message or emoji enough? When, pray tell, should we actually use the phone to call? Or…talk face-to-face?! A recent NY Times commentary, “The Art of Condolence” by author Bruce Feiler, wades into these choppy waters of shifting cultural expectations. Penned after Feiler’s own mighty Read more
We all have those moments that go beyond words. Something seen or heard can touch us in a way we can’t describe, but in effect it softens us, warms us, expands us with a sense of light. We feel wide open to the beauty of God in creation. Our senses are the doorways. They may Read more
It’s a familiar pattern. An outgoing, enthusiastic guy begins slowly but surely to change. At first it’s almost imperceptible — a shift in mood or a vacancy in the eyes only those closest to him can see. It’s not drastic or alarming, but it’s real. Maybe his friends start to notice when he doesn’t talk Read more
That the Catholic Church needs a better way to select Bishops is a sentiment that every Catholic, I think, could agree with. It is the headline of an article by Robert Mickens in the National Catholic Reporter, which is worth reading for the way it summarises the Pope’s recurring harsh words about bad bishops. The Read more
In a recent speech full of allusions to Bible verses and Christian hymns at the National Baptist Convention in Kansas City, Hillary Clinton focused on Christian humility. She acknowledged that “Humility is not something you hear much about in politics.” But, she said, it should be. Those who truly understand “the awesomeness of power and the Read more
Reform never happens all at once, and, frankly, at the level of details it’s often boring as hell. Statutes for a new communications department approved by Pope Francis and released Thursday don’t exactly make gripping reading, but they suggest that reform is becoming irreversible. Here’s the thing about important historical reforms: They almost never happen Read more
Recently I was asked to speak at a local Catholic women’s group. It had been awhile since I’d put on my speaking shoes, and I was genuinely excited. That is, until I was given my topic. Fellowship, they said. Fellowship? I couldn’t help but wince. Not suffering? Prayer? Family discord? Keeping the faith during crisis?? Nope, Read more
We can never truly understand another’s experience of dying, or understand what happens psychically, spiritually, physically and emotionally when a person is close to death. An incredibly subjective experience, we can only make guesses as to what being in that ‘twilight zone’ of hovering between life and death might actually be like. When I worked Read more
Parenting is hard work. It calls on mothers and fathers to really forget themselves and put their kids first. So it’s no wonder that sometimes, we take shortcuts. We buy them a toy rather than spend more time with them; we lose our temper rather than practice patience; we put on the TV at dinnertime Read more