In my last post, I, normally a reserved person, hung a portion of my heart out there online for all to see. I did this, not because I enjoy doing so, but because of my faith that the Lord’s power comes to perfection in and through our weaknesses, as He said to Saint Paul. Not in our strengths. Not in our masks or pretenses. But in our vulnerabilities, those things that our world calls “weaknesses”. The Lord has confirmed this in my life before, time and time again. He has confirmed it, BIG time, this past weekend. Continue reading “With Gratitude and Love”
Covenant and Sacrifice
Corpus Christi (B)
This Sunday, we celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi – the Body and Blood of Christ. As Catholics, our attention this day naturally focuses on the Sacrament of the Eucharist, which makes present to us – sacramentally – the very Body and Blood of Christ. Yet, the Scripture readings we have for this day speak to us of covenant and sacrifice as well as blood. The first two readings mention the rites of animal sacrifice that were prevalent in ancient Israel. Continue reading “Covenant and Sacrifice”
No Anxiety At All?
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Philippians 4:6-9
“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7
“Paranoia strikes deep; into your life it will creep. It starts when you’re always afraid. Step out of line, the man come, and take you away” – from the song For What It’s Worth by Stephen Stills
“And any time you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain; Don’t carry the world upon your shoulder. For well you know that it’s a fool who plays it cool by making his world a little colder.” – from the song Hey Jude by John Lennon & Paul McCartney
Anxiety.
Do a little research, and you may be surprised at how many people struggle with anxieties in their lives. It is estimated that three out of ten Americans have some form of anxiety disorder. In one survey, 41% of all employees from a variety of industries reported high levels of anxiety in the workplace. Another survey showed that over half of all college students have sought help for their anxiety challenges. 43% of Americans take mood-altering prescriptions on a daily basis. That last statistic doesn’t include the many and varied ways that people try to self-medicate for anxiety: alcohol, other drugs, food, exercise, sex, meditation techniques, and so on. Besides this, intense anxieties tend to close people in on themselves and make them less willing to trust others. This affects not only individuals, but also families and communities of all kinds, and our nation as a whole. Anxiety, and the issues that flow from it, has become a significant epidemic in our culture. Continue reading “No Anxiety At All?”
Feedback
This isn’t a reflection on today’s readings, as meaningful and powerful as they are. No, this is an expression of gratitude on my part for all of you who have offered such positive and powerful feedback to me since I began this blog. Some of you have shared a bit of your own stories with me. Somehow, you found something in one of my posts helpful to you in your own life’s challenges. Somehow, the Lord spoke to you through some words of mine. A few of you told me stories about yourselves or others you know who are Aspies as well, and how my blog seems to offer them some hope of finding their own voice and place. I cannot claim much credit for any of this. I share what I am given. You, in turn, have shared what you were given. In such sharing, received in love and gratitude, we experience the healing touch of the Holy Spirit. Continue reading “Feedback”