A reflection for the Feast of St. Mary the Virgin As I prepared for the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Mary, the Theotokos, I considered several readings on which to focus. The most natural for me, and the one verse I think most beautifully and succinctly captures the strength, faith, courage and importance … Continue reading The last teaching from the cross
Faith
Let Christ do the doing
Anamnesis -- A walk into the Real Presence of Christ The most rewarding part of my week usually is when I take the Eucharist to nursing home residents. A chance to pray together, to worship, reflect on Scripture and administer the Sacrament of Unction (anointing with oil) -- this service as a Lay Eucharistic Visitor … Continue reading Let Christ do the doing
Going into the deep
A primer on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius As I mentioned in my last post, our aspirancy group in the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma is using the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius to prepare us for the spiritual journey toward possible ordination. I had read about the Ignatian Exercises, and more specifically, the Examen, … Continue reading Going into the deep
Forging instruments of peace, one heart at a time
It’s been almost a week since two mass shootings claimed the lives of at least 31 people. In a country that, thus far in 2019, averages more than one mass shooting per day, these latest incidents have raised, yet again, the question of how, or if, we will stem the tide of violence and bloodshed … Continue reading Forging instruments of peace, one heart at a time
Be the child
A first crack at the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius A couple of posts back I reflected on Luke 10:21, when Jesus praises the "Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious … Continue reading Be the child
And so it begins — Aspirancy to Holy Orders
Today starts a new journey for me, and I humbly ask for your prayers as I begin it. This path goes back more than two years, to a lunch I had with our priest and my spiritual director, Fr. John Toles, from St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, in Enid, Okla. I had been visiting with Fr. … Continue reading And so it begins — Aspirancy to Holy Orders
Living square with God
This piece was adapted from reflections delivered during Morning Prayer and Evening prayer, July 14 and July 16, respectively, in separate nursing home and prison ministries. How do we square our lives with God? This is one of the central questions of all theology. How should we live our lives so that we are "square" … Continue reading Living square with God
Let go, and HOLD FAST
In the Navy, particularly in days gone by, tattoos hold special meaning. Sometimes that meaning, like my uncle's giant tiger head on his chest, is simply "I had too much to drink in the Philippines." Other times the tattoos have deep meaning about service, selflessness and duty. One of the oldest is the words "HOLD … Continue reading Let go, and HOLD FAST
Making the most of life in the shadow of time
"Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind." If you want to fully appreciate the truth of Nathaniel Hawthorne's quote, I recommend a few hours in your nearest nursing home. The shadow of time hangs heavy there, among those who live for the opportunity to share with someone -- anyone -- the glories, loves, … Continue reading Making the most of life in the shadow of time
We need the “empathicalism” of “Funny Face”
It may seem strange to conflate the whimsical 1957 Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire musical "Funny Face" with the atrocious treatment of children in concentration camps on our southern border. But, the children in those cages were on my mind (they usually are, of late) while my wife, Tammy, and I were watching Hepburn and … Continue reading We need the “empathicalism” of “Funny Face”
