Does God want us to build back better? The underlying concept is recovery from disaster. God certainly wants us to recover from the original sin of our self-centeredness
Month: October 2021
“What are you hearing?”
There’s a formula in broadcast news. An anchor tries to hook us with a teaser. They then turn to a colleague. “You are on the scene. Tell us what you are hearing.”
Have You Soundproofed Your Heart?
Pope Francis “Let us ask: In the church, are we good at listening? How good is the hearing of our heart? Do we allow people to express themselves, to walk in faith even though they have had difficulties in life, and to be part of the life of the community without being hindered, rejected or judged?
Do You Pray FOR Someone or WITH Someone?
Where two or three are gathered… A Baptist pastor’s wife taught me about praying with a person. I invite you to an examination of the power of praying with someone.
Abortion – There is No Doubt…
Pope Francis leaves no room for doubt about where he stands on what abortion. He has been unambiguously clear that the humanity of an unborn child must always be protected. Will we win the pervasive threats to life in a “throw-away culture”?
Are You a Vincentian Cricket?
St. VIncent was one of the great influencers. He lived the prayer “May love light up my mortal frame until others catch the living flame.” He set hearts afire!
The Poor Will Always Be With You??
Jesus is criticizing the disciples with this echo of Deuteronomy 15:11, where it is established that poverty is the result of society’s disobedience to God and of following the laws and commandments of empire.
What Questions Get You Thinking?
How do I want the world to be different because I lived in it?
How do I want to be different because I lived in this world?
What is wrong with the picture I see?
What is the next thing that needs to be done?
I Predict the Synod will…
The Church has just begun a three-year process focused on not only truly listening to each other. We are called to listen to the Holy Spirit whose view spans all of time and eternity. Most visitors to Vincentian Mindwalk are aware that Pope Francis is playing the “long game”on reading the signs of the times today just as Vatican II did in the mid 20th century. I predict … at least 3 simultaneous “synods”!
Do we need a reset?
Over the next three years of the “synodal process”, Jesus is asking us to gather in the upper rooms of our homes, dioceses, countries, and finally in Rome. To respectfully wait for and listen to the Spirit speaking not only to our hearts but in the hearts of our sisters and brothers. He is asking us to walk together.
Playing the Short Game Or the Long Game?
Jesus could have handed out copies of his encyclicals – the Sermon on the Mount, Beatitudes, the Our Father. Rather, he gave us his preaching as guides to understand the next stage of the journey of the Body of Christ to discover the fulness of eternal life in God!
How Can You Disagree With the Pope… and others?
The church is a family, “God’s people”. Family fights are the worst. But disagreements are part of any family or community. Suppressing them leads to frustration and dysfunctional behavior. Our goal must be to be reconcilers, not dividers.
Mary’s Memories – the Rosary As Her Scrapbook
“She kept all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Lk 2:19; cf. 2:51)
To me, that’s another way of saying she kept her scrapbook of memories of special memories of her son in her heart.
How Christ-like Do You Think You Are?
When St. Paul asks us to “put on the mind of Christ” he has much more in mind than mouthing Jesus’ words. I believe he is asking us to look at our attitudes and actions. We are called to “walk the talk”!
Who Are You Calling a “Cafeteria Catholic”?
Many of those who take cudgels to anyone who disagrees with a Pope now often lead the charge seriously asking whether the current Pope is Catholic. And those who tended to ignore some Popes in the recent past cheer on the current Pope.
But the truth is larger than what either is willing to see and struggle to understand.
Rom 16, 13 reads: "Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; and greet his mother—a mother to me also." If this…
Have a blessed Holy Week!
I have never thought about the people that were named in the Gospels. I would agree that they may be…
Generally, I love the laconic nature of Mark's Gospel. The Passion narrative is very compelling in its starkness, with one…
Father John, Blessings to you as you step cautiously down that new path. Grace and Peace be with you!