From time to time, my dad would remind me that “every person you meet is your better in that you can learn something from them.” Good and sage advice. I wonder if he knew he was echoing Ralph Waldo Emerson who wrote: “In my walks, every man I meet is my superior in some way, and in that I learn from him.” Of course one can then ask if the quote is original to Mr. Emerson. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, lectionary cycle B. The selection for the Gospel readings for the latter part of Ordinary Time (Year B) do not necessarily help readers place the events in a context. From the 24th Sunday up through the 30th Sunday we have read from the core of Mark’s gospel (chapters 8-10). Within those readings we have watched a pattern repeat itself: (a) Jesus predicts his passion, death, and resurrection; (b) the disciples either protest the prediction or seemingly grasp for prestige, places of glory, or authority; and (c) Jesus privately teaches the disciples how the Kingdom will different than their expectations – one must serve, be last, be as a child. Continue reading
As part of our morning prayer as a community of Friars, we read the names aloud for the friars who passed away on the given day. This weekend marks the 12th anniversary of the passing of one of the true characters and legends of our Franciscan province. Brother Juniper Capece was a friar for 60 years, was our provincial tailor, and was the keeper of many of the stories of the friars – you know, the ones that never get written down, but bring everyone to tears because we are laughing so hard. Continue reading
The science fiction genre of books and movies, for me, are an interesting conglomeration of the good, the bad, and the downright ugly…. Of course, some might say the same thing about my posts on this blog. Outside of the self-publishing realm, the number of new science fiction books coming to market each year is falling. The economics are simple: there is only a narrow band of readers willing to purchase such novels. Each year the purchase of older, well-established novels outsells the newer offerings. The Dune novels received a boost in sales based on the success of the recent Dune movies offered via streaming services. I will admit that my “library” of read and re-read science fiction largely consisted of classics from Clarke, Herbert, Asimov, Le Guinn and others. I guess the future doesn’t sell. Continue reading
Once we have honored our dearly departed with a funeral, a heart-felt eulogy and a gathering of friends, we settled into our on-going lives. For many that means finding a new normal. In time, stories arise that were not part of the eulogy. When I was growing up, these later stories were told on the porch, in the small gatherings of family and friends. They were told on benches, told to the rhythm of a rocking chair, told in love, and sometimes ending with “God bless their heart.” Continue reading
For a final thought, Pheme Perkins [679] offers:
What does it mean for Christians today to say “the Lord our God, the Lord is one”? Most of us do not live surrounded by temples and images of polytheism. Yet we might ask whether we have not given in to another kind of polytheism, a casual pluralism that accepts whatever anyone believes as “okay.” Or again, we allow good things that are not ultimate to become the ultimate and defining forces in our lives — nation, occupation, family, race, political cause, or theological system. [p. 679]
“After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.” (Rev 7:9).
In her short story “Revelation,” Flannery O’Connor tells of Mrs. Turpin, an upright if not self-righteous woman. The story opens in the waiting room of a doctor’s office, where the smug Mrs. Turpin is chatting amiably with a stranger to pass the time. The stranger’s homely, surly daughter Mary Grace sits nearby reading a book. Continue reading
When Jesus answers the scribe, He uses the second person singular form of the verbs: “You shall love..” Jesus is telling this individual what he should do. In this way it is not a dissimilar encounter with the earlier episode of the rich young man who asks what he must do to inherit the Kingdom (Mark 10:17-22). Although the man goes away sad, he clearly understood that this was an answer to what he, personally, must do. When the scribe responds and virtually repeats what Jesus had said he makes it impersonal. He doesn’t say, “You’re right! I should love ….” It is as though the initial question was somewhat “academic” as opposed to personal; an intellectual exercise for the scribe as opposed to seeking a guide to this life and the Kingdom to come. Even Jesus notes that the scribe has answered “with understanding” perhaps acknowledging the goodness of the answer. Continue reading
To be clear, I am not a fan of horror movies. If the eyes are the windows of the soul, then why let the monsters in…. right? My limit is somewhere around the GEICO commercial-spoof of horror movies. But as a public service, seeing that Halloween approaches and various networks will show horror movies non-stop, I thought it would be good to offer you the 15 strangest, most elusive beasts in the dictionary. Enjoy. In the meantime, I will pray none of us encounter a chupacabra or wyvern.
“Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the Devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground.” (Eph 6:11-13)
In today’s reading St. Paul uses the metaphor of the “armor of God.” I can remember the first time I heard the expression. It was spoken by someone who I thought, in general, was a bit dramatic about most things in life. Everything was a pitched battle between the forces of light and dark. While driving to a bible study at our country parish, a crow was spotted perched on a fence. “Look, it’s one of Satan’s demons!” Sometimes a crow is just a crow.
And then sometimes we have this reading on Halloween. Continue reading
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