Aspiring to Own the Armor of Innocence

Today’s readings reminded me how liberating innocence is. You know how you go to confession weighed down by the guilt of a litany of sins, and you leave that confessional like a prisoner leaves jail once he’s served his time?…

Longing for Jesus’ Administration

We can’t escape from politics these days. The commercials are full of candidates spitting in each other’s eyes and performing self-proclaimed miracles. Today’s readings reminded me of the contrast between human and divine politics. As our King, Jesus is a…

Sophistication: The Original Sin

Today’s readings made me think of how sophisticated we humans are. That’s not meant to be a compliment. Most of us use the term “sophisticated” with a positive connotation. But if you look the term up in the dictionary it…

The Gospel according to Shania

I always liked Shania Twain, although I’ve never been that much of a country music fan. But today’s readings had all the makings of a classic country western tune, and it happened to be one written by Shania Twain: “Dance…

Let Wisdom Replace our Surplus of Stupid

Today’s readings tell us what our Dads have always told us: “Don’t be stupid!” Only the Book of Wisdom slaps us in the head with a more tender swipe: “Wisdom proclaimed from the heights above the city, ‘Let the simple come this way.’…

The Holy Spirit Refreshes by E-mail too.

We’ve all felt like Elija in today’s first reading. For me this week seemed like that, when all the pettiness and office politics finally got to me and I felt like finding a secluded place and surrendering. “He himself went…

The Power to End our Drought

Drought’s effect on our food supplies is making all the headlines lately, but there’s another drought that’s just as widespread in the world but is being ignored. Spiritual drought is evident to anyone who attends Sunday mass on a regular…

Even Shepherds Need Shepherds

Today’s readings are dedicated to the shepherds who guide God’s flock. The first reading is more cautionary to those who would scatter and divide that flock. “You have scattered my flock, you have driven them away and have not taken…