WordPress and JetPack have released a new AI tool to generate images. I asked for the winter scene of New England fields during winter. The results is the featured image shown. Kinda’ interesting.
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Category Archives: Musings
Do you love me?
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” (Jesus) said to him, “Feed my sheep. Continue reading
“Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,so that they may all be one.” (John 17:20)
Jesus does not stop at praying for himself and his disciples; his vision transcends the present, reaching beyond his immediate followers to those who will believe through their message. The vision of a unified people of God was expressed earlier in John’s Gospel in 10:16 (“one flock and one shepherd,” an allusion to Ezek. 34:23; 37:24) and 11:52 (“gathering of the scattered children of God into one”). In the present instance believers’ unity results from being taken into the unity of God, and believers, once unified, will be able to bear witness to the true identity of Jesus as the Sent One of God. Continue reading
Peace
In today’s gospel we read: “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33) The word “this” refers to all that Jesus has told his disciples in this and the previous 3 chapters of the Farewell Discourse. The wide range of topics, advice, admonitions, and commandments seem to center around remaining in relationship with God, doing what God commands, and living a life that receives and gives love abundantly. In several earlier passages Jesus promises that willingly adopting the life as a disciple is one that surely and relentlessly leads to joy, and not just any joy that the world would give, but a joy that is complete. Our verses today focus on peace – but not as the world gives, but as given in the Holy Spirit. What kind of peace is that? Continue reading
Joy
From time to time, Sacred Scripture contains verses that give us pause: “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials” (Jame 1:2) I will admit that while encountering tests and trials, joy is not my instinctual response. Of course, that verse continues: “for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:3) It is a good thing that through trials and testing we gain experience and come to an understanding of our ability to persevere, endure and hope. But I can’t say joy is in the mix. But then perhaps I am a bit confused about what joy truly is, at least in the Biblical sense and am more given to equate joy with the way I am feeling or responding to something in my life. Continue reading
Whatever we ask
In today’s gospel we read: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.” (John 16:23). It seemed like a “blank check” for our prayers and the intercession of Jesus. What is the context, what are the limits, and are there any caveats? Continue reading
Talking in Circles
If you are following the daily gospels for Mass, you will have noticed that we are relying on Jesus’ Farewell Discourse presented in Chapters 13 through 17. The context is the eve of the crucifixion, and Jesus knows he will be leaving his disciples shortly. In that context, he offers them departing instructions and words of farewell – four chapters and more. It is in John 13:33 he says, “My children, I will be with you only a little while longer.” Immediately the protests against their abandonment begin and they continue in different ways and forms – right into today’s reading (John 16; the Diocese of Arlington celebrates Ascension on Sunday). As you continue to read through the Discourse people often comment: (a) these apostles and disciples are not the brightest bulbs in the box because (b) Jesus keeps repeating the same things and they don’t get it. Continue reading
The Culture
Today’s first reading is the well known account of St. Paul at the Areopagus, the academic meeting place in Athens. While Athens was no longer a center for political power, it remained the center of the very wide-spread Hellenistic culture. Paul’s speech sounds quite different from speeches he gave in synagogues which argued from Hebrew Scripture. In this different setting Paul’s remarks are addressed to Greek philosophers, nevertheless, it too is steeped in Scripture, but sticks to the parts that sound like philosophy and natural theology, that is, evidence from nature pointing to the God who created it. Continue reading
The Paraclete
“But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.” (John 16:5-11) Continue reading
Spirit and Persecution
The readings for today continue the account of the early Church as told in the Acts of the Apostles and continues the Farewell Discourse from the Gospel of John in which Jesus, on Holy Thursday, after the Last Supper, is still working to encourage and prepare his Apostles and disciples for what will come in the mission to the end of the earth. Jesus tells them that their mission will be powered by the Holy Spirit. He also notes that the Holy Spirit will fuel their commitment and perseverance to the mission – despite all the trials, persecutions, tribulations, and challenges they will face. Continue reading
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