By Patrick Manning When I was twelve years old, I came face-to-face with death in dramatic fashion. Our entire community had been shocked to learn of the death of the father of one of my […]
Category: Lectionary
The Fix-it Impulse: The Challenge of Abiding in the Desert
“I can fix it.” As a minister, spouse, father, social worker, son, white male, in virtually every context of my life has that phrase been a refrain. It’s both gift and curse. “I can fix […]
True Value
On Monday my Facebook feed revealed that a friendly acquaintance has an article coming out in a prestigious academic journal. While I wish my first thoughts had been, “Oh good, some new take on the […]
Thinking About the Gospel is Not Living It
By Fran Rossi Szpylczyn Thinking about the Gospel, reading it on paper, hearing it proclaimed is one thing. Living it, well, that is another thing now, isn’t it? At mass Jesus’ words in Matthew’s Gospel were clear, […]
The Season of Advent: I Want It All
Well aware of my deep love for LEGOs, this year my girlfriend gave me a LEGO Advent Calendar. Each of its 24 little cardboard doors hides a small set of pieces, which so far have […]
Teaching and Discipleship: Work of Faith, Labor of Love, and Endurance in Hope
I was recently asked to facilitate a retreat for a local Catholic high school’s faculty. Honored and humbled by the request, I began brainstorming potential themes that would inspire and refocus them as they begin […]
Good Friday: Assigning Blame for Jesus’ Death
On this, the saddest of days in the Christian calendar, I will cut to the chase. There are two claims that I wish to dispel. One, the Jews killed Jesus. Two, our sins killed Jesus. […]
Returning to the Camp
A reflection on the readings for the First Sunday of Lent “The one who bears the sore of leprosy shall keep his garments rent and his head bare, and shall muffle his beard; he shall […]
Nothing Will be Impossible for God
Reflection on the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent Only one more week until Christmas, and that of course means there’s only one more week to fret about Christmas shopping before the start of […]
Two Lonely Pregnant Women Rejoicing…A Reflection for the Third Sunday of Advent
Joy, hope, spirit, and suspense are all themes of this Sunday’s readings. While any one pastor or reader may gather various meanings from a single set of scripture, I offer today my personal take on […]
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