A TIME OF TESTING, A TIME OF DISCOVERY
Lent is a time of spiritual renewal. Part of the process of renewing ourspiritual life involves being attentive to both God’s grace and to temptations. Overthe centuries, spiritual people have learned a great deal about how God’s graceworks in the human heart and how temptation comes into a person’s life. Lent is a good time […]
Jesus and the gift of Deliverance
Only those who were “clean” could take part in the prayers and ceremoniesof the Jewish people. In the time of Jesus, these religious and social rules created awhole group of people who lived on the fringe of society. Foremost among thisgroup of outcasts were those suffering from a skin disease called leprosy. The community of […]
Down by the Riverside
That is where it all began. Down by the riverside with John the Baptizer.One day, Jesus came to hear the Baptizer preach. He left his home in Nazareth andcame to the river Jordan. That day, he stood among the crowd — that wholegathering of very different people, soldiers, the poor, teachers, etc. — and tookanother […]
EXPECTATION, PREPARATION, WAITING
Advent is a strange season. As the days become shorter, our hope grows stronger. The more darkness there is, the more we anticipate the coming of Jesus, the Light of the World. That is a strange kind of hope. Isaiah the prophet seems to understand something of this peculiar hope associated with Advent. He […]
The Hummingbird
Nature presents many marvelous phenomena which also teach worthwhile life lessons. One I noticed recently has to do with hummingbirds and their eating habits.Every few days a post-it note appears on my desk with the message – “the hummingbirds are sad.” Time to put more sugar water in the feeder. How do those tiny birds […]
HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH
A Community potluck dinner creates a fine experience of being together and of belonging. Several different times in the Gospels Jesus has a dinner of this type with the people. He gathers them through the power of his preaching and feeds them in generosity. Each time he begins with just a little — […]
Happy Birthday to Us!
On the day of Pentecost the church was born. That group of frightenedand confused disciples became alive. They became a self-confident andcourageous group of witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection. Even their friendsmust have wondered, “What happened to these guys!” At Pentecost, the Apostles became a new creation. What is even morestartling, they were not alone in […]
Remember About Your Retreat
Fr. Patrick McCorkell, S.J. This is a reminder about whatever you wanted to remember from retreat. Somewhere in retreat or in the few days after retreat, Our Lord revealed something to you. Oh, it may not have been anything shocking or startling. Perhaps it was simply a renewed sense of confidence or determination in your […]