From the final Gospel of Advent* “In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us” (Lk 1:78) And isn’t that how God always happens. Breaking upon us. Surprising us. Seemingly not there, and…
The Last Moment Before the Next
Debt Forgiveness: Are You Joyful?
During his earthly ministry, Jesus posed this question to Simon, a Pharisee, in the midst of a symposium-style dinner discussion: “Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them…
Parish Life Lessons: From Gyms and Fitness Centers
From YMCAs to PlanetFitness to the latest CrossFit outpost in your local strip mall, gyms and fitness centers are an ubiquitous part of most American communities. The rise and fall of certain models can give us insight into factors we…
God, Do You Care?
If you’ve said yes to that overwhelming, “love of God poured into [your] heart” (Romans 5:5) and have been following Jesus as His disciple for some time, you’re probably finding that you’re not as tempted by certain serious sins as you might…
Empathy Means Stepping Out
Which comes first in your parish–Believe, Belong, or Behave? Are people expected to conform to a certain (hidden at times!) code of behaviors about where kids are sent to school, how one dresses, or what kind of music you listen…
Forgiveness: It’s Complicated
What does the word “forgiveness” mean to you? A burden? Something we are obliged (but never really want) to do? Letting someone off the hook? Pushing down hurt and anger? Dealing with lingering guilt? Figuring out how to move on in a…
Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity: Cultivating Virtues for Evangelizers
Have you ever witnessed a sporting event where a tremendously skilled team or player makes an amazing play–but blundered on the “easy” part? Think of a baseball player who hits a home run, and then misses tagging second base. Or,…
Desolation in Ministry: Jonah’s Story
That feeling of dread, regret, or resignation. Not wanting to step into your parish office. Wishing you’d never taken on that new volunteer position. Wanting this year of RCIA to be over because you don’t even want to see the…
Learning from Jesus’ Conversations
How often do we have conversations in ministry and wonder, was I imitating Christ? Yes, it’s an impossible standard. But, by examining the way we converse with others through the lens of “customer service” can help us relate to others and…
Customer Service as Evangelizers
As evangelizers, we’re all in customer service. Now this is strictly a metaphor, because as Christians we’ve got nothing to sell (in fact, we’re sharing the free gift of God in Jesus Christ) and aim to foster, not consumers, but…