Over the next 20 Sundays Luke tells us stories from along the road to Jerusalem through Galilee. But this is no sightseeing journey. Luke wanted to show how all followers of Christ were invited…and challenged by Jesus.

Over the next 20 Sundays Luke tells us stories from along the road to Jerusalem through Galilee. But this is no sightseeing journey. Luke wanted to show how all followers of Christ were invited…and challenged by Jesus.
An unplanned visit the Emergency Room of our local hospital helped me realize the difference between hearing and listening. This led me to experience the visit in ways beyond the focus on myself.
Too often, we cannot see the forest for the trees. Our wisdom figures help us to step back and see where individual pieces of the picture puzzle fit. The wise person helps us see what is not always evident.
Sometimes I have said “Don’t you understand”? Something was so obvious to me!
Other times, with perhaps deeper frustration, I have felt, “You don’t understand (me).
When I thought about it, I realized… “It’s complicated!”
There are many ways and levels of understanding.
A seminarian taught me not everyone is blessed with a father like mine! Without a direct word, my father taught me so much about Our Father. DId anyone help you recognize God as a loving parent?
“Caller unknown” often leads to the marketer’s purgatory of Voice Mail , or even to the marketer’s hell of the Spam Folder. Do we really listen to the calls of the poor… or put their cries in voicemail?
Reading Pope Francis’ reflections, I was able to shift my focus and see more clearly what each of these seven gifts of the Spirit look like. I found much food for thought and personal prayer.
I thought I knew its meaning… until I “binged” on a master class on the Our Father given by Pope Francis.
In 16 five minute or so master classes I saw it as if for the first time.
This year I have had a similar experience when Pope Francis shared his insights into Pentecost and the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
“Let Me See Again!” I never saw any connection between the life-changing experience of a blind beggar being given his sight and the Pentecost gift of Jesus’ spirit under the appearances of tongues of fire.
Now I cant “unsee” it.
Wildfires are clear and present dangers!This Vincentian Mindwalk explores a vastly more powerful and long-lasting wildfire, one that has lasted over 2000 years and transformed over two billion lives today.
My fear this Memorial Day is that once again nobody we do anything about mass shootings. Perhaps I look in the look in the mirror and ask what I can do.
STOP – LOOK – LISTEN! As I celebrate 57 years of priesthood, I think about how many roads I have crossed, am crossing, and still have to cross. In this Vincentian Mindwalk review my life using the metaphor of the “rules of the road”.
A late 19th-century artist, James Tissot, graphically posed a question for us today. In his depiction of the Ascension, he asks, “Why do you stand looking up into heaven? (Act 1:11) Instead of looking up to the heavens, should we be looking for Jesus’ footprints around us?