The Prayers of My Jewish Brothers and Sisters

Last evening I attended a Shabbat worship service at Bet Shalom temple. No, I’m not converting to Judaism: My friend Rabbi Norman Cohen, who I’ve mentioned in several recent posts, is the head of that congregation and I wanted to be able to worship with him and hear him give a sermon before he goes [...]

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With Whom Should I Surround Myself?

I’ve seen the following message posted on the Facebook status of a number of my friends: “Surround yourself with people who make you happy. People who make you laugh, who help you when you’re in need. People who would never take advantage of you. People who genuinely care. They are the ones worth keeping in [...]

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Walk As He Walked: Love

Our first Mass reading today (as it has been for the past couple of days) is from the beautiful first letter of St. John. Today, John gives us a simple test to know when we are in union with Jesus. How do we know we are in union with him? “Whoever claims to abide in [...]

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I Beg To Differ

I love Margaret Silf, and I came across a quote the other day from her most recent book, A Book of Grace-Filled Days. Silf writes A first-century philosopher observed: ‘When I light a candle at midnight, I say to the darkness: “I beg to differ.”’ As we light our Christmas candles, we, too, say to [...]

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“Iconic” and How We Deal With Co-option

I’ve been mulling over an exchange I read on Facebook the other day. The prompt was an article about someone who was described as an icon. Someone questioned whether any human being should be labeled “iconic.” Someone else responded that his understanding of the Gospel is that we are all called to be iconic. The [...]

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The Feast of St. Stephen

Yesterday was a joyous day of celebration – our celebration of the Incarnation. As incongruous as it is to go immediately from birth of the Savior to martyrdom, on this day after Christmas we celebrate the feast of St. Stephon, first martyr of the Catholic Church. The juxtaposition of the two events serves as a [...]

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The Event that Changes Everything

Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace to people of good will! Today we celebrate the Incarnation. The Word becomes flesh and makes his dwelling among us. Not the most important event in the Christian faith. (That would be Easter.) But an event that changes everything. God becomes human, allowing us a [...]

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What Gift Will I Bring?

I already sent some people this reflection, which I recorded yesterday morning, but thought I’d post it here as well. Something to think about before Christmas morning. (My first effort at at vlog, so be gentle with any technical criticisms.)

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Soon and Very Soon

Christmas Eve. The wait is just about over. Tonight, we will gather with family and friends. I will be with my extended family at my cousin Joe’s house, where there will be mounds of food and pile of gifts. We will celebrate our ability to be together, even as we mourn those who are not [...]

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Come To the Silence

Advent is just about over and tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Even for those of us who have managed to find time for prayer during these last few weeks of Advent, this last day or so before Christmas can turn into a frenzied rush of activity. Those last few gifts we need to buy. The presents [...]

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