Author: The Anchorite

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Social Sin, Social Healing

Fifth Sunday of Lent (C):  John 8:1-11

 

At first glance, this Gospel story may seem like last week’s Parable of the Prodigal Son. A person appears who is guilty of a serious sin. This person is shown mercy, much to the consternation of those who claim to uphold the Law of Moses.

It is tempting for us to explain such stories by pointing out a contrast between the compassion of Christ and the apparent harshness of the Law of Moses. Law versus Gospel. But the reality is not so simple. The Law is not as harsh as some believe it to be. The Gospel is often quite demanding, if we take it seriously and try to live it out sincerely. Continue reading “Social Sin, Social Healing”

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From Anxiety to Love

Third Sunday of Lent (C): Luke 13:1-9

Perfect love drives out fear. – 1 John 4:18

As we pick up the story of Jesus as told by St. Luke, Jesus and His disciples are making their way through Galilee and headed for Jerusalem. Jesus has been telling His disciples that, in Jerusalem, He will suffer, die, and rise again, in order to bring repentance, forgiveness, and salvation to all who will believe in Him.

On the way, they meet people who tell Jesus how Pilate, the Roman governor, had butchered some Galilean pilgrims as they were offering sacrifice in the very Temple itself. Why did these people say this to Jesus? Were they troubled by His preaching about being reconciled with one’s enemies, and so brought up this atrocity, as if to say, “What about this? How can we be reconciled with people who would do such things?” Were these people trying to warn Jesus that this might not be the best time for a Galilean rabbi who had attained some notoriety to appear in Jerusalem? Or, was it the age-old question of why such atrocities happen – and why did they happen to these people? Were they somehow being punished for some serious sin? Or, if this was “just one of those things”, where was God in all this? Continue reading “From Anxiety to Love”

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Amazed by God

Second Sunday of Lent (C): Luke 9:28-36

 

Maybe I’m amazed at the way you’re with me all the time,
Maybe I’m afraid of the way I love you.

Maybe I’m amazed at the way you help me sing my song,
Right me when I’m wrong-
Maybe I’m amazed at the way I really need you. 

– from Maybe I’m Amazed, by Paul McCartney

It’s amazing how you can speak right to my heart
Without saying a word you can light up the dark
Try as I may I could never explain
What I hear when you don’t say a thing

– from When You Say Nothing At All, by Don Schlitz and Paul Overstreet

 

Peter, James and John are on a mountaintop with Jesus. Jesus is praying. Suddenly, they see Jesus’ glory, and then see Moses and Elijah with Him. They are amazed and awestruck. They are left without words in the end, and tell nothing of this to anyone.

How can we, in our time, get a sense not only of what this was about for those who witnessed it, but of what it can say to us in our own time? Continue reading “Amazed by God”

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Who’s Your Daddy?

First Sunday of Lent (C): Luke 4:1-13

Temptation.

We all experience temptation in one form or another. Each one of us knows that we are more vulnerable to certain temptations than others. Some temptations seem to be too much for us. We look for help and guidance as to how to cope with temptation and remain faithful to the Lord.

We are reminded in our Gospel reading for this Sunday that Jesus, too, experienced temptations. The Letter to the Hebrews picks up on this: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with out weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15). Continue reading “Who’s Your Daddy?”

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Stations of the Cross for Autistic People

One of my more recent “hats” is spiritual advisor/director for the Mission of Saint Thorlak.  This website is devoted to spiritual outreach to autistic people (and others), inspired by the example of Saint Thorlak. He was a 12th century bishop of Iceland who may well have been autistic. A number of people believe that he would be an ideal patron saint for autistic people. Click the link to the Mission website that I gave above for more information.

My most recent project for the Mission is putting together a version of the Stations of the Cross that I hope will be especially helpful for people on the autism spectrum.  As you may recall, I am autistic.  I have not found much in the way of devotions and prayers that speaks specifically to the gifts and the challenges faced by people on the spectrum.  I have put together these Stations as one little attempt to address this need.

The Stations that I have put together are based on the Scriptural Stations of the Cross that St. John Paul II used on a number of occasions. I wrote the reflections for each station, and adapted prayers with autistic people in mind.  People who are not autistic will find some food here as well, I trust.

You can find the Stations here. While you are on the Mission website, feel free to explore further, to learn more about Saint Thorlak, and about the Mission.

Your constructive feedback is most welcome!