Category Archives: Musings

Generosity and Persistence

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In the traditional understanding of the parable of “The Sower and Seed,” the focus is often on the soil as a description of our hearts, of our openness to the word of God being sown into our lives. The soil/heart is described as a well-trod path, rocky ground, a bramble of thorns, or rich fertile soil. There is some insight there to be sure, but it does not necessarily give insight into a remedy.  Some have described it as “the soil under your feet”. All one must do is to look down, assess the conditions where you stand in life, and move. Move to the rich fertile soil – and yes, along the way you will have to deal with birds, the weeds and the scorching sun.

At least two things stand out for me about the Sower: generosity and persistence.

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An interesting Intersection

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Today is an interesting intersection of national events. President Trump’s return to the oval office after four years will begin today with his inauguration. The same day in which we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. I have no doubt that pundits, journalists, and writers will have more complete and better insights than I. Both these historic events are joined at this interesting intersection by our gospel: the wisdom of new/old garments, wine and wineskins.

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A Love Letter

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Since Tuesday of this week (today is Friday), the first reading has been from the First Letter of John starting with the fourth chapter. John’s letters are sometimes a challenge to read and often presents challenges in listening as the letter seems to continually curl back on itself leaving you to wonder if the author is repeating for emphasis or making a new point. But then again sometimes the message is clear enough: “God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. If God so loved us, we also must love one another.”  Before moving ahead, perhaps a summary would be helpful.

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Passing By

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Today’s gospel (Mark 6:45-52) has some verses that have always, for me, lingered between odd and troubling: “When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea and [Jesus] was alone on shore. Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them.” (v.47-48) Previously in Mark 4, Jesus had calmed the storm at sea. This earlier event focused attention on the authority of Jesus’ word; here his whole person is involved as he walks across the rough water. On both occasions the disciples fail to understand who Jesus is and experience stark fear and amazement and yet “He meant to pass by them.” That’s the part that lingers between odd and troubling.

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The Fullness of Time

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What would you say if someone asks, can you prove that God exists? Can you provide an empirical, scientific or mathematical proof of the existence of God? St Thomas Aquinas understood that strict proofs in the empirical sense are not possible, he would point out that theological or philosophical arguments, while not strict “proofs,” point to important things. Here is another question: can you prove the existence of love? I’d be surprised if you can offer a consistent, repeatable, and full proof of love, but I have no doubt that you can offer experiences, insights, and examples of the incarnation of love in one’s life. Neither can I prove that God or love exists – all I can do is reflect upon the world that God created and see the argument for God and love in life itself.

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Coming into the World

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“When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman” (Gal 4:4).

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God a part of the Octave of Christmas. We continue to celebrate the birth of God into the World. The Word come into the world, fully God, fully human – not on the great rolling thunder clouds with the heavenly hosts at full strength. Rather, Christ came into our lives at the end of a very human process: conception to birth – i.e., When the fullness of time had come… Continue reading →

Resolutions and habits

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In what has become a New Year’s Day “tradition”, I again offer this post for your consideration.

Unless you happen to be like my muse, Calvin, in the comic strip, I suspect you are about to make some New Year’s resolutions. How did you do on last year’s resolutions? About the same as the rest of us? One ad hominem wisdom saying defines “insanity” this way: to keep doing the same thing and expect a different result. Perhaps 2022 is a time to consider changing the way resolutions are considered, made, and hopefully, kept. Continue reading →

Part Time Believers

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Today’s gospel is the Prologue from the Gospel of John. In part, it reads: 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” … “What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”… “…to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name.” (John 1:1, 4-5, 12)

It is a glorious and amazing passage which promises the “power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name.” Here in the shadow of our celebration of the Feast of the Holy Family, it speaks to the everlasting Holy Family of God in eternal life. Here in this life it asks that we clothe ourselves in the Word of God so that we focus our life on the will of God in the here and now, to become witnesses to the love and embrace of God that all might “believe in his name.”

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Joy Complete

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Today we celebrate the Feast of St. John the Evangelist. In the midst of the Christmas season today’s gospel seems out of place. It recounts Mary Magdalene’s experience of Easter morning when she reports to Peter and the other apostles: “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they put him.” In that scene she is the first witness to the Resurrection, the first evangelist proclaiming the Good News to those who would be charged with carrying that news to the end of the earth. The scene is as foundational to evangelization as can be.

Evangelization, bringing the “Good News” to the people of the world is something that has always been wrapped up in promise. From the very beginning, even as Adam and Eve were being expelled from the Garden of Eden, there was the promise of a son who would come to restore. In a certain sense, the entire Old Testament has the echo of the promise, given through the prophets, that the promise holds and God is faithful to His word. In that light, the Christmas Nativity gospel can be thought of as “Hope has arrived.”

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