Category Archives: Musings

Earthen Vessels

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“But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.” 2 Cor 4:7

St. Paul speaks with remarkable honesty about the fragile condition of human life and discipleship. We are, he says, like jars of clay, earthen vessels—ordinary, breakable, imperfect. And yet, within us is a treasure: the presence and power of the Risen Christ. The contrast is deliberate. God’s glory is not hidden by our weakness—it shines through it.

St. James, the son of Zebedee and brother of John, was among the first called by Jesus. He was also one of the first to drink the cup of martyrdom. Though chosen and close to Christ—present at the Transfiguration and in the Garden of Gethsemane—James was not a perfect man. Along with his brother, he once asked for a place of honor in Christ’s Kingdom (cf. Mark 10:37). Matthew’s gospel has his mother make the request. Yet it was precisely through the transformation of his ambitions, through suffering and service, that James became a true vessel of the Gospel.

Paul continues, “We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair… always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.” (vv. 8, 10)

Christian life is not an escape from suffering; it is a path through suffering toward resurrection. Like James, we are called to remain near the Cross, to carry the dying of Jesus in our own bodies—through sacrifice, endurance, and fidelity. But we also carry His life. The trials we face are not the end of the story. The final word belongs to grace.

Paul ends with a word of hope and purpose: “Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.” (v. 15)

Our trials, our witness, even our weaknesses can serve God’s glory when offered in faith. We do not need to be flawless—we need to be faithful. Like James and so many CHristian before us, we are called to recognize the treasure within, to proclaim the Resurrection with courage, and to let thanksgiving overflow from our lives.

Image credit: Pexels and Canva | Roman Odenstov | CC-BY

Civilization and Air Conditioning

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I was 38 years old before I lived in a home with air conditioning. Growing up in Orlando, while our parents had a window unit in their bedroom, the rest of the house depended on a massive in-ceiling fan that drew the evening air (relatively cool) up and through the house and discharged into the attic space forcing out the heated air that had collected during the way. It mostly worked. The US Naval Academy was not air conditioned. (That first summer in Annapolis exposed me to levels of heat+humidity previous never experience by this Florida boy). The submarine was air conditioned. My “when in port residence” in Aiea Hawaii didn’t have, didn’t need it – thank you tropical breezes. My home in Virginia was not air conditioned until it was added… when I was 38.

I have often wondered if air conditioning was the beginning of the downfall of western civilization. Growing up in Orlando, folks sat on the front porch in the cool of the late afternoon and early evening, …. watching all … reporting all misbehavior to the appropriate parents. It was a civilizing element to an otherwise steamy summer world. It also meant we knew our neighbors – which in the case of my block growing up was fortunate all things considered.

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The Feast of St. Bonaventure

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In many ways St. Bonaventure is a Saint for the times in which we live – when divisions are ripe and the unity of a nation is being sorely tested. In the years while St. Francis was alive, the Franciscan Order experienced rapid growth – which only accelerated after St. Francis’ death and canonization – each friar and local fraternity trying to discern what it meant to follow Christ in the “tradition” of Francis of Assisi. They came to several differing conclusions and the opinions were not always offered “humbly.”  Over simply, one group called for poverty to be the mainstay while another called for obedience. A third group was in the middle just wanting everyone to get along because fraternity and minority were the hallmarks of Franciscan life. The Order was beginning to come apart at the core.

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The Household of Faith

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 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me…” (Mt 10:37)  I think there is a tendency among believers that when we hear those words, we respond with, what I call, “the holy nod.” It is our reflexive response: Jesus said it, it must be true, amen, alleluia. Yet if we sit with it for a moment, there is a certain harshness to the words. We treasure our families—we pour our hearts into the daily rhythms of care, communication, sacrifice, and support, and more.  How do Jesus’ words reconcile with the Christian ideal of love?

But Jesus is not diminishing the love we owe our families. Rather, He is reordering it—elevating it. In calling us to love Him first, Jesus invites us to see that love of family finds its fullest meaning and power when rooted in our love for God.

We are called to “take up our cross” (v. 38). And for many, that cross is carried not on distant mission fields or grand platforms, but within the home: in caring for an aging parent, raising a child in faith, forgiving a sibling, or choosing self-sacrifice for the good of the household. These acts, often hidden and humble, are expressions of deep discipleship.

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The scorpion and the fox

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A well know fable:

A scorpion wants to cross a river and asks a fox to carry him across on its back.
The fox hesitates, afraid that the scorpion will sting him.
The scorpion argues, “If I sting you, we’ll both drown.”
The fox agrees, and they begin to cross the river.
Halfway across, the scorpion stings the fox.
As they both begin to sink, the fox gasps, “Why did you do that?”
The scorpion replies, “I couldn’t help it. I am what I am.”

The fable teaches that some people cannot (or are unwilling) change their fundamental nature—even when it’s self-destructive or goes against logic. It is with that in mind that I recommend the the article: Why Americans Don’t Understand Vladimir Putin.

Evangelization Masterclass

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The account of St. Paul’s address on the Areopagus in Athens is a masterclass in the evangelization of the culture – a skill surely important for our day and age. His arrival in Athens is, in its way, the introduction of Christianity to Europe. It was an event, while of no particular note or importance to historians, thoughts leaders, or philosophers of the day, was one that shaped the history of Western Europe and eventually the world.

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Peace

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What kind of peace do you seek? Merriam-Webster defines “peace” as tranquility, quiet, freedom from disturbance, harmony and similar expressions. Today, let us take a look at what Jesus might mean when he says, “my peace I give to you.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks some of His most tender and reassuring words: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” These words are not merely poetic or comforting—they are a divine promise, spoken on the eve of His Passion, when chaos was about to unfold.

Jesus knew His disciples would be shaken. He knew fear would grip them as He went to the cross. And yet, He says: “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” Why? Because the peace He offers is not the fragile, fleeting peace the world gives. The peace of Christ is rooted not in circumstances, but in His presence and victory over sin and death.

We might ask ourselves: What kind of peace do I seek? Is it merely the absence of conflict? The comfort of routine? Or is it the deep, abiding peace that comes from knowing I am loved and held by God—even in suffering?

Jesus’ peace is not a promise of a smooth life. It’s a promise of His presence in the midst of life’s storms. That’s why He could say with such confidence: “I am going away and I will come back to you.” He was preparing them not only for the cross, but for the resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Notice, too, His obedience: “The world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.” Peace and obedience go hand in hand. When we surrender our will to the Father, even if it’s difficult, we receive a peace that cannot be taken away.

Today, let us invite Christ’s peace into our hearts. Not a peace that depends on everything going well, but the peace that flows from trusting in the One who has conquered the world.

May we, like Jesus, live in obedience to the Father’s will, and so be signs of His peace to a troubled world.

Amen.

Image credit: Christ’s Final Address to the Apostles | Bona Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1380 | from the Maesta Altar | Siena, Museo dell’Opera del Duomo | PD-US

Voyager

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NASA launched the Voyager 1 Spacecraft in Sept 1977. It is now 15 billion miles from Earth and still sending data. Voyager 1 owns the distinction of being the first spacecraft to travel beyond the solar system and reach interstellar space – doing so in 2012. It is currently zipping through space at around 38,000 mph (17 kilometers per second), according to NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. That’s Washington DC to Los Angeles in 3.6 minutes

The Voyager missions took advantage of a special alignment of the outer planets that happens just once every 176 years. This alignment allows spacecraft to gravitationally “slingshot” from one planet to the next, making the most efficient use of their limited fuel. Recognizing that the Voyagers would eventually fly to interstellar space, NASA authorized the production of two Golden Records to be placed on board the spacecraft. Sounds ranging from whale calls to the music of Chuck Berry were placed on board, as well as spoken greetings in 55 languages.

Voyager 1 was the first (there is also a Voyager 2 spacecraft) to race by Jupiter and Saturn. The images Voyager 1 sent back have been used in schoolbooks and by many media outlets for a generation. To NASA’s surprise, in March 1979 Voyager 1 spotted a thin ring circling Jupiter planet. It found two new moons as well — Thebe and Metis. Additionally, Voyager 1 sent back detailed pictures of Jupiter’s big Galilean moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto) as well as Amalthea…. at this point you might be asking how many moons Jupiter has… 80 discovered so far.

Like the Pioneer spacecraft before it, Voyager’s look at Jupiter’s moons revealed them to be active worlds of their own. And Voyager 1 made some intriguing discoveries about these natural satellites. For example, Io’s many volcanoes and mottled yellow-brown-orange surface showed that, like planets, moons can have active interiors. Additionally, Voyager 1 sent back photos of Europa showing a relatively smooth surface broken up by lines, hinting at ice and maybe even an ocean underneath. (Subsequent observations and analyses have revealed that Europa likely harbors a huge subsurface ocean of liquid water, which may even be able to support Earth-like life.)

One of most famous images sent back by Voyager 1 is the “Pale Blue Dot” image. It is a photograph of Earth taken Feb. 14, 1990, by NASA’s Voyager 1 at a distance of 3.7 billion miles (6 billion kilometers) from the Sun. The image inspired the title of scientist Carl Sagan’s book, “Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space,” in which he wrote: “Look again at that dot. That’s here. That’s home. That’s us.”

Thought you’d like to know Voyager 1 is still “on the job.” Almost 48 years. Nice.

Sources: NASA and Space.com (Elizabeth Howell)

Scuttlebutt

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Scuttlebutt – a word meaning rumor, gossip. emerging information, or whatever news is being passed around the office coffee pot or water fountain. Not sure how much it is used in every day life, but I do know it was common in naval circles – and there is a reason why! From our good friends at Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day:

When office workers catch up on the latest scuttlebutt around the water cooler, they are continuing a long-standing tradition that probably also occurred on sailing ships of yore. Back in the early 1800s, scuttlebutt (an alteration of scuttled butt) referred to a cask containing a ship’s daily supply of fresh water (scuttle means “to cut a hole through the bottom,” and butt means “cask”); that name was later applied to a drinking fountain on a ship or at a naval installation. In time, the term for the water source was also applied to the gossip and rumors disseminated around it, and the latest chatter has been called “scuttlebutt” ever since.

Clutter

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I think we all go through episodes of “spring cleaning.” Parishes are often asked: “could the parish use…” and what follows is a litany of things old and beloved, unusual and familiar, new and used, useful and whimsical, and the occasional, “I don’t know what it is, but it seems like it is holy.” The conversation is hardly ever (perhaps never?) with a person from the millennial or Gen Z demographic. At this point in their lives, they live unburdened by too much stuff and do not yet have the same emotional connection to things as did the generations before. They are a mobile group and thus don’t want a lot of stuff when moving house or moving to a new city. IKEA will do just fine until things settle.

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