God's Strong Hand 2 February 2023 The Presentation, by Hans Holbein the Elder. c. 1500 The Presentation Today in the secular world (at least in the United States) we observe the venerable tradition of Groundhog Day. This event involves allowing an earth-dwelling rodent to forecast our weather for the next few weeks. It's just a fun … Continue reading God’s Strong Hand and The Presentation
The Scandal of Mary, Mother of God: 8th Day of Christmas
As Christians, we know that we are called to conform ourselves to the Truth, not to the impossible task of somehow conforming Divine Truth to ourselves.
7th Day of Christmas – Christmas is Just Beginning
Mystic Nativity, by Sandro Botticelli, 1500 Are You Sure It's Just Beginning? Just beginning? Does it seem like it's just beginning . . . ? Some images never fade. I have a vivid memory of a Christmas years ago, shortly after my return to the Faith. The Christmas tree was literally hurled through the front … Continue reading 7th Day of Christmas – Christmas is Just Beginning
Christ is King of the Universe . . . and of Our Hearts
The End of History? Christ is King! How easily we forget . . . What a fool I was when the Berlin Wall fell forty years ago. I naively thought that the apotheosis of the state into totalitarian forms of government was fully and finally exposed. Everyone knew it was an inhuman, deadly fraud. In … Continue reading Christ is King of the Universe . . . and of Our Hearts
A Thorny Problem: the Body and Blood of Christ
A Thorny Problem A thorny problem indeed. It’s so hard for us truly to accept that the Infinite God of the Universe could fully inhabit a human body, and be both True God and True Man. I was often reminded of just how thorny a problem this is for us when I used to … Continue reading A Thorny Problem: the Body and Blood of Christ
Something Strange is Happening – Holy Saturday
Something Strange Something strange is happening—there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. These are the opening sentences in the non-scriptural reading in today’s Office of Readings. The author, it seems, is unknown. The liturgy simply tells us that it is … Continue reading Something Strange is Happening – Holy Saturday
Is it I, Lord? – Good Friday
Is it I, Lord? It seems all too easy for us sometimes to see the Apostles, in their bumbling humanity, as almost comic figures. They certainly don’t appear too dignified, for instance, when they argue over which one of them is greatest (Luke 22:24, Mark 9:33, etc.); they look almost like clamoring children, who are clearly … Continue reading Is it I, Lord? – Good Friday
Christ Came to Serve – Holy Thursday
Christ Came to Serve - The Mass of the Lord's Supper Christ Washing the Feet of the Disciples, by Giotto. c.1305 “It is enough.” He said to them, "But now, let him who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag. And let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy one. For … Continue reading Christ Came to Serve – Holy Thursday
Which Crowd? Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday
Ecce Homo, by Antonio Ciseri, 1871 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:40-41) The Inner Struggle … Continue reading Which Crowd? Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday
Gabriel’s Annunciation and Mary’s Renunciation
Gabriel's Annunciation and Mary's Renunciation Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign:the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son,and shall name him Emmanuel,which means “God is with us!” (Isaiah 7:14) Gabriel's Annunciation There's something that doesn't seem to make sense at first in today's Gospel reading (Luke 1:26-38). Here's the … Continue reading Gabriel’s Annunciation and Mary’s Renunciation