ponderings on life and faith
What do you call “ponderings” during a pandemic? Pandemerings! So, while we collectively share in quarantine and distancing, I have presented a few thoughts and reflections ….
For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God. (John 16.27) There is a profound message for you and me in today’s scripture. It is the core truth of our faith, and it is this, simply this …… the Father loves me. It’s the kind of […]
One of the benefits of this time of seclusion and separation has been an opportunity to rediscover some of the simpler joys in my life. One of those is music. I am sure I am not alone in saying that music has the ability to mystically transport us to places of the spirit. For each person, the […]
Continuing on our musical theme, I have brought to mind another song that touches me. Today’s song is “dream on” by Aerosmith. The lyrics begin… Every time when I look in the mirror … All these lines on my face getting clearer … The past is gone … It went by, like dusk to dawn …. Isn’t that […]
So, if last week was a time to let movies be the trigger for the pandemerings, then it would appear this week’s trigger is music. Today, we move from the Beatles and Aerosmith to Catholic liturgical musician Dan Schutte, who in 1981 wrote the hymn “Here I am, Lord”. It was based on Isaiah 6.8 and […]
Well, it is Friday again … and this week’s focus on musical ponderings lead us to one final song to feed our reflections and close out the week. The choice was a difficult one. But I am drawn to the poetry of Leonard Cohen, and in particular his song Hallelujah – a word based on two […]
When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to Peter, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!” How human it is for us to compare ourselves to others and to want to tell their stories as if we knew their minds….. In […]
At Saint Johns we have been able to take our security feeds and use them as source for live-streaming our Mass and Communion services. This means that though you have not been able to be in the building during Mass, you have at least been able to see familiar sights and hear familiar voices. As you have […]
As a consequence of our new ways of encountering “church” in this time of pandemic, many Catholics have been thinking about their own relationship with the church — not just the buildings, but the community, the sacraments, and the liturgies … which typically require a physical closeness that is nearly impossible right now. For many […]
Vatican II urged Catholics to return to Scripture as a way of “learning the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ.” There are many ways for us to contemplate scripture. Today, we can look at one of these, called in Latin – Lectio Divina, (Holy Reading). This method of prayer goes back to the early monastic tradition. In those […]
So, what will the “next normal” look like for the Catholic Church? Well, for the definitive word, I leave that to the Pope and the Bishops. As a Deacon, I am in marketing, not in management! But, joking aside, perhaps this time of being apart from – distanced from – familiar ways of expressing our faith will give […]
Sometimes we can read into a scripture text something that is not there. It may simply be a matter of missing the significance of key words or phrases, and failing to heed their cues. Regardless, we miss the point that the author is trying to make and substitute another lesson – one which may not be bad […]
As we continue to journey through this pandemic, I looked back and realized that I have penned (typed?) some 70 during the past few months. 70 has a number of significant meanings in Hebrew Scriptures. It is the product of 7 (perfection) and 10 (completeness). Well, I am not sure how perfect these musings have […]
Today is the memorial of the Immaculate heart of Mary. Because of her willingness to put her total trust in God, despite how unbelievable it was that she would be asked to be the mother of the Messiah, Mary’s love and trust in God becomes a model for the way we should love God,for the […]
