Late on a Sunday, after a long week and weekend of ministry, one’s mind turn to speculative whimsy. What would happen if you merged “Harry Potter” and “Lord of the Rings”? One possibility is the following video (fair warning, if you are not familiar with both movie series, the following might make no sense)
A few years ago I purchased a used Subaru Outback. Given my history of buying and keeping a car for long periods and the reputation of the Outback, it will probably be the last car I ever have. (Note: being a Franciscan friar, the Province actually owns the vehicle, but it is in my care and use). The previous car (Toyota Scion) I drove for 12 years. The average ownership of an Outback exceeds 10 years…. so…. I am guessing I will not participate in the move to all electric cars. Continue reading
In the gospel for last Sunday, a scribe approached Jesus and asked, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” All the centuries later, we Christian people know the answer. We know it well. The first commandment is to love – to love God with our entire being, all that we are, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We all know what to do…but… Everyone of us can easily think of our epic failures in fulfilling the first and greatest of the commandments. During the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a very common confession includes “failing to put God first.” If I ask what that means to the person it is often answered with accounts of falling short on love of God or neighbor. As I said, we all know what we are called to do. As challenging as it is, simply put, we are called to be all-in. How do we become “all-in”? Continue reading
Several weeks ago there were massive flight cancellations on Southwest Airlines and then a while later American Airlines experienced similar widespread cancellations. Immediately people began to speculate if this was a reaction to corporate decisions for mandatory vaccinations – a “blue flu” epidemic as people began to call in sick. Cancellations and very long delays were the norm of two different holiday weekend. And why were only two airlines so largely affected? It is not as though this was the first weather event these two airlines had experienced.
Let’s return to one topic that always fascinates me: chaos. As mentioned in many other posts, mathematical chaos is not the randomness of a butterfly in China who flutters all the time, but on one occasion, the flutters give way to a tornado in Kansas – how random one might think. Such an event depends on the initial conditions in which the butterfly flutters (…. and why aren’t they called flutterbys?). Given the same initial conditions, the same tornado will predictably appear in Kansas. Continue reading
As noted last week the accounts of Francis and the leper were beginning to “evolve” from the first story that appeared in Thomas of Celano’s first book. Some 20 years later, there are additions being made to the story that seem to be less about Francis per se, and more about Francis’ legacy that should be central to the identity of the Order. Thomas of Celano’s second book was written at the behest of the then Minister General, Crescentius. This leader inherited the results of the leadership of the two previous ministers: Elias of Cortona and Haymo of Haversham. This week we will consider Elias.
Born in Bevilia near Assisi, Elias appears to have been one of the earliest companions of Francis. He seems to have joined the growing fraternity in 1211 within two years of it’s beginning. From the first he was given responsibility for leadership, first in Tuscany, then later (1217) to lead a band of missionaries to the Near East. In 1219 he became the first provincial of the then extensive province of Syria. Continue reading
The gospel for today is one of those that is well-known and a bit confusing. It is the story of the “Dishonest Steward” (Luke 16:1-13; although today’s proclamation only goes to v.8). It resides in the same chapter of Luke with the story of “The Rich Man and Lazarus” (Luke 16:19-31). In between are a few verses about other matters. Both of the two main stories begin with reference to a “rich man.” There is a lot going on. If you would like to read a more detailed commentary, it can be found here. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time of Year B in the lectionary cycle. In the gospel we read: He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, ‘Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. 44 For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.’ (Mark 12:41-44) We are conditioned to consider that Jesus is continuing his castigation of the scribes (religious leaders who use their position for their own gain) and their social counterparts, many rich people. By juxtaposition we then infer that the poor widow is praised for her giving of her whole livelihood and placing her full dependence upon God. We infer that, and perhaps rightly so, but there are many other ways to consider the scene. Continue reading
People ask me all kinds of questions. These days most questions are about parish life, Scripture, church history, theology, and the topics one would expect to receive when one works in a parish. This week another question has been asked: “How is it possible for a modern submarine to hit an underseas mountain? Don’t they have sonar?”
Brad Lendon has a well-written and concise article which answers the questions far better than I would have. The shorter answer is that the whole purpose of submarine is stealth. Sonar is a loud-speaker announcement “Here I am” and so its not used for routine navigation. But that leads to the question of “don’t submarines have maps?” We have charts, but as Lendon wrote: “Basically, the surface of the moon is better charted than the bottom of the ocean is.”
Continue readingLuke 15 is one of the most unique chapters in the Gospels in that it consists of three memorable parables: the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son. Many commentators locate these three parables within a larger section of Luke that asks the question “who will participate in the reign of God?” (13:10-17:10). The section includes the foundational formation of the disciples – but often via the encounter with the Pharisees in which the assumptions of right relationship with God are put to the question. The Pharisees and others in the Jewish religious leadership assume folks such as tax collectors and sinners are outside the “faithful remnant” that awaits the return of the Messiah. At issue is the question of fellowship in the community of God’s people. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time of Year B in the lectionary cycle. In the gospel we read: “They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation.” (Mark 12:40) The charge that the scribes “devour widows’ houses” (v. 40) also seems more characteristic of prophetic charges against the rich than of a particular role played by scribes. Some interpreters have hypothesized that scribes might have acted as guardians for widows who lacked male relatives. Others suggest that they may have accepted hospitality from widows under the pretense of piety in order to support their tastes for wealth and power. Continue reading
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