Author and Date The book of Baruch is a mish-mash of things that were grouped together because no one piece was long or important enough to stand on its own. All the pieces of the book are set in the fall of Jerusalem in 587BC and the subsequent exile. Some pieces were likely spoken by READ MORE
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22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time
The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Ordinary Time Click here for more information. Last week we were urged to make a choice. As we move back into the gospel of Mark, we’ll find that, time and again, Mark also asks us urgently to make a choice. We won’t be getting away from that theme, but READ MORE
Naming the Grace
I have a keen interest in Ignatian spirituality, and one of the key features of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius is beginning each prayer period by asking for a particular grace. He encourages us to reflect on the deep longings and desires within, and then ask for those desires to be granted. There is READ MORE
21st Sunday of Ordinary Time
The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Ordinary Time Click here for more information. The past four weeks have given us an extended reflection on Jesus as the source of life. Next Sunday we’ll move back into Mark’s gospel. This is the time of year when many folks will begin to move from a vacation mindset READ MORE
Engaging More Deeply With Scripture: Journaling
Maybe you already journal or maybe you haven’t journaled in a long time. Perhaps you think journaling doesn’t “work” for you. This month I invite you to develop or renew a journaling practice with a few different techniques and see how God speaks. Some people like to journal on the computer but I am a READ MORE
Engaging More Deeply With Scripture: Names of God
A common prayer practice in the East is known as the Jesus Prayer. It acknowledges the power of Jesus’ name as well as the benefits of repetition. Muslims reverence the name of God and list at least 99 versions of it as a way to explore different aspects of who God is. Names of God READ MORE
Engaging More Deeply With Scripture: The practice of the presence of God
In 17th century France, a man had a spiritual awakening which led him to enter a Carmelite monastery near Paris. His name became Brother Lawrence and he spent the majority of his life in the kitchen, cooking and cleaning up. He lived, always, aware of the presence of God. For Brother Lawrence, the kitchen was READ MORE
Engaging More Deeply With Scripture: Memorization
In many faith traditions, there is a huge emphasis placed on memorization of sacred texts. Jewish boys begin memorizing the Torah at an early age. Muslims memorize the Quran. In the faith tradition of my childhood, we were expected to memorize many, many verses of scripture. In early Catholic tradition, memorization was vitally necessary in READ MORE
Engaging More Deeply With Scripture: The Examen
The Examen is a beautiful prayer from Ignatian spirituality. The traditional steps of the Examen are very basic and easy. If you’d like to read more about it, check out Jesuits.org. One way to engage more deeply with scripture is to read the passages alongside the steps of the Examen, letting scripture suggest questions for reflection. For example, if the READ MORE
Engaging More Deeply With Scripture: Promises and prayers
This month focuses on mining the readings for promises from God and the prayers we can make from those promises. We’ll incorporate these into a two-minute prayer period that can help us carry the readings throughout our day. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Sunday I am indebted to retreat material from Fr. Steven Bell, C.S.P. READ MORE