Today we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. The Gospel is the section of the Sermon on the Mount known as the Beatitudes: “Blessed are …” The Beatitudes are like a job description of the one who, operating out of faith in Christ, becomes one of the hagios, the holy ones we honor on this day. In the lives of the Saints, the Church holds up a life as an inspiration to what is possible with God’s grace. Continue reading
During the first 300 year of the Christian church, the people of God endured periods of peace, but also extended periods of persecution. Especially in the local churches, each generation remembered the martyrs and the leaders who exemplified the faith. By the fourth century these women and men were honored in liturgies that commemorated their passing into God’s bright glory. In time, churches were named to honor their memory, sometimes even built on their tombs. And in time relics were collected and honored. Continue reading
You may have heard that Facebook has changed its corporate name to “Meta” as in metaverse, the moniker of the moment. An online article appeared noting #FacebookDead is trending out of Israel. It seems “meta” is the Hebrew word for dead. Someone did not do their branding homework. ….. It was a grave error. Moving on…
In today’s first reading, St. Paul is in the midst of his monumental work, The Letter to the Romans. Whole commentaries – really thick ones – are better suited to explain the whole logic and trajectory of Paul’s thought, but here is an attempt to give you some context. Up through Chapter 6 Paul is making the case that all the human problems caused by Adam/Eve and the human family are addressed and answered in Jesus – his life, atoning death, and Resurrection. In Romans 7, Paul asks, “then what was the point of the Law/commandments?” Continue reading
Have you ever been in a place where you feel as though you are out of place? Not unwelcomed in a broad sense, but a bit of an intruder. The realization can come upon you unexpectedly and you enter into a liminal space where time freezes and you quickly process what is unfolding. You are entering a party at the home of a friend and you sense these folks are not your familiars. You feel under-dressed – too casual in a room full of fashionistas. A beer-will-be-just-fine person in a room of upscale wine aficionados whose vocabulary is foreign. Surrounded by discussions of foreign films among people for whom “the MCU” has no meaning. But it was your good friend who invited you and has warmly welcomed you. Continue reading
“…the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will” (Roman 8:26-27)
And how are we to pray? One response is that as Jesus taught us: the Our Father. St. Paul knew that, so I suspect he had more in mind – after all the Holy Spirit had been given to the Church. St. Paul reminds us that, just as Jesus promised, we are not alone. We have a divine prayer partner. Let me suggest at least six ways the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. Continue reading
Beyond the ironic quality of a Franciscan friar writing about the future of money, it really is a fascinating topic. A recent issue of Time Magazine carried a series of articles under the unifying moniker “The Future of Money.” The coverage included a short history of currency and the means of exchange, an explanation of the world of NFTs, and the movement of El Salvador to establish crypto-currency as nationally legal tender. This articles are free to Time subscribers but available under Time’s limited access program. Both are well worth the read. Continue reading
“For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God.” (Roman 8:19-21)
Did you know that the world was fashioned as a Temple and the Garden of Eden was depicted as the sanctuary of the Temple – the holy place where God dwells with his people? Well, you can’t have a temple without a priest to keep it and to offer sacrifices. And that’s the task that God gives to Adam. It’s a “priestly” task. But you need to know a little Hebrew to understand it. Continue reading
The first reading for today is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans. The verses that caught my attention were: “…we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom 8:12-13). As you read it, the natural question that arises is “what does it mean to live according to the flesh?” Continue reading
Early in the pandemic there was an expectation of reduced demand while at the same time factories in the Pacific Rim region were shut down because of Covid-19 quarantines and infections. In response, shipping companies cut their schedules in anticipation of a drop in demand for moving goods around the world.
Meanwhile in western countries, especially the United States, the timing and quantity of consumer purchases swamped the supply chain system. Factories whose production tends to be fairly predictable ramped up to satisfy a surge of orders. But the problem is the ability to obtain needed materials and the timing as the delivery system tattered on the edge of disaster. Shortages beget more shortages. A paint manufacturer that needs 27 chemicals to make its products may be able to buy all but one, but that one — perhaps stuck on a container ship off Southern California — may be enough to halt production. Continue reading
