Up until now, I never thought about “how” Jesus shared his news with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.
I never paid attention to the “how” he shared the good news in each of the appearances after his resurrection.
Mindwalk: Latest posts and thoughts…
Could You Be Convicted of “Mercying?”
Today I wonder whether our concept of mercy is too small or is a one-way street. I wonder how many sermons went beyond assuring us of the gift of God’s mercy. Certainly, an important theme.
Yet how many sermons stressed the need for us to be merciful?
Pay It Forward Sunday – What? Divine Mercy!
“Pay It Forward.” The lead line in the movie was, “When someone does you a good deed, don’t pay it back; pay it forward.”
Isn’t that what Jesus meant when he said “Do this in memory of me!”
Do You Ignore “Nudges”?
In one sense God was the first “nudge”. Over the centuries God has used many to nudge us.
In the two year synodal process just begun Pope Francis asks us to listen. Can we hear God’s nudging us?
Does Jesus Want Us to Build Back Better?
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
“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.
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.