Readings for February 22, 2015: First Sunday of Lent In today’s fuzzy moral landscape, it is quite unpopular to even speak of sin, never mind condemn it. It’s even more politically incorrect to talk about God taking stern action against…
Noah’s Ark and the Baptismal Flood
Thy Will Be Done
That time of year again, Lent! Some of us wait in anticipation, but I’m sure most of us shudder at the thought. It is usually when Christians recognize this as a time of suffering, of stripping away our old self…
Advice on Happiness from the Smartest Man in the World
Imagine your son tells you he wants to become a priest. Would your heart soar and your soul praise God? Would you be torn; feeling happy he wants to serve God but lamenting the loss of potential grandchildren? Or, would…
Lenten Lemonade
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. How many times have we all heard this proverb in our lives? The better question should probably be—how many times have we heard this and wanted to strangle the person saying it to…
The Tenth Leper Lenten Challenge
I apologize in advance if someone wiser than I has already come up with this idea and in my ignorance I have now aped someone’s originality. But a number of years ago, I was introduced to an activity called…
Trials and Thanksgiving
Then Job answered the Lord and said: I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be hindered. I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me,…
Yes, There Can Be Evangelization
The parent meeting went off fairly well. Only one small technology difficulty and I dare say some evangelization may have occurred. As I said last time, I want parent meetings to go well and be positive experiences for everyone involved. …
Lessons from the Leper
Readings for February 15, 2015: Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Many Catholics are confused about suffering. Some writers extol its surpassing value. But does that mean that we should look for suffering? Or, if suffering should come our way, that…
Hide in Plain Sight
I know, I talk about this Annunciation all the time. But I wouldn’t if it weren’t full of Biblical-Catholic content. I blame the artist, Matthias Grünewald. For now let’s just focus on a single theme: overshadowing. A theme I talk about all the time, but only…
The Powerful Prayer of Amen
At the beginning of this year my husband and I decided it was time to offer our almost-two-year-old son an opportunity for prayer that was designed for his interests, his way of viewing the world, not ours. While our son…