At Wednesday’s All Saints’ Day Mass, we celebrated the spiritual G.O.A.T.’s that have “come marching in” throughout the course of Church history. We also heard the call to become saints ourselves. But we all had the same thought, didn’t we? A saint? Me? No way! But what if I told you there is one thing you could do, one concrete action you could take, that would catapult you past those identified as “blessed” and “venerable? What if you could jump... Read more
This week’s Gospel reading asks us to give up our usual way of computing value in favor of a “cornerstone calculus.” For the past several years, I have taken on a part-time gig in addition to my regular full-time work. If it came with a title, it would be something like, “Senior Project Manager, Bucket List Trip Division.” If it paid even a minimum hourly rate, I’d be rich. It has neither, but that’s not why I submit my resignation... Read more
Last week, I wrote about the declining numbers of those who align with organized religion. Perhaps one reason for the rush to the exit is that we never really understood the purpose of religion in the first place. Just for fun, let’s say “religion” is the beautifully decorated present under the tree on Christmas morning. We have lots of words for what’s under the wrapping and ribbons and inside the box: salvation, redemption, justification, deliverance, and more. Although most of... Read more
The title of an opinion piece published this week by acclaimed New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof says it all: “America Is Losing Religious Faith.” He discusses what’s known as the “great de-churching,” the current groundswell of people happy never to darken the doors of a church again. Why the opinion piece? A book with that very title just hit bookstore shelves earlier this week: The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to... Read more
The complex doctrine of the Holy Trinity can be described in many ways. Perhaps the best is … “It’s complicated.” Having been married for nearly 29 years, I’ve never been on a dating app or used any own social media to meet people. But I know of many happy couples who did meet that way, so I assume that if I were young and single, I’d probably also entrust the algorithms of relationships to produce reasonable dating options worthy of... Read more
Recent guidance by the APA and the U.S. Surgeon General makes it clear that social media has the potential for significant negative impacts, especially for adolescents. As people of faith, what can we do? In the early years of Facebook, I was a big fan. “Does anybody know a good plumber?” I had eight helpful suggestions with useful reviews from people I trust within minutes. “Is pet insurance worth the cost?” I had detailed analyses of the pros and cons... Read more
What if Pentecost is less about the descent of the Holy Spirit from outside of us and more about the ascent of the Sacred Breath within us? The rise of yoga, meditation, and other mindfulness strategies in the West has taught us that the thing we take most for granted is the very stuff of miracles. The most ordinary part of our human experience – one we usually aren’t even conscious is happening – is actually a superpower that makes... Read more
Yesterday’s gospel reading begs the question: if Jesus ascended into heaven over 2,000 years ago, where is he now? I’m currently reading the latest edition of a fantastic book, Forming Intentional Disciples, by Sherry A. Weddell. The author talks about hearing three different homilies three weeks in a row by three excellent priests in three different parishes. In each one, the priest used the phrase, “when Jesus was on earth.” The author found that perplexing because such language assumes that... Read more
The gospel readings from Easter to the Ascension depict Jesus saying goodbye to his disciples. And so much more. One of the beautiful things about working in a high school is that we get to celebrate the natural beginnings and endings that a school year provides. In August each year, we all get new school supplies, class schedules, hopes, and goals. And every year in May, we get to experience a sense of closure and the satisfaction that comes with... Read more
The gospel for the Sixth Sunday of Easter provides confirmation of the radical organizational chart in the employee handbook for Christianity, Inc. I have been teaching confirmation preparation classes to eighth graders in my parish over the last eight months. I’ve learned a few things. First, 25 eighth-grade boys and girls together in one room are . . . a lot. Second, they are both delightful and annoying, often at the same moment. And third, they can wolf down snacks... Read more
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