Category: meditations
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Aleph is for Analogy
The post is an active exploration of analogy in theology by way of the letter A’s history and the silent Aleph in Hebrew, shedding light on the mystery of divine revelation and hidden prefigurement.
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Debt or Trespass?
The post discusses the concept of sin and God’s eternal self-gift, emphasizing that the Greek use of ‘debt’ in the Lord’s Prayer doesn’t simply mean trespass or sin, but rather refers to how we often fall short of receiving, sharing, and modeling God’s love.
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All is Grace
The post discusses the concept of an individual’s “garment”, representing their aptitudes, burdens, and weaknesses. It underscores the understanding that life experiences contribute to the garment, whether desirable or not. The idea of “Charism” is defined as a spiritual gift, which might also originate from our wounds or troubles. The author emphasizes the importance of…
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The Burned Icons
AN ELDER SAT his cell praying before his icons. On the stand before him was a large piece of wood, scared but mostly empty, ancient wood. In the middle of the wood was what seemed like a face, although there was a slash through it. Towards the upper left, there was a flash of color,…
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The True Story of Sleeping Beauty
The Readings for the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary Apocalypse 11:19A; 12:1-6A, 10AB Psalm 45 (Response: The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.) 1 Corinthians 15:20-27 Alleluia: Mary is taken up to heaven; a chorus of angels exults. Luke 1:39-56 I wrote this in 2018. Reposting for the feast (which will…
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Life Just Keeps Coming
JMJ✙ The Readings for the 19th Sunday, Tempus per Annum 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a Responsorial from Psalm 85 (Response: Lord, let us see your kindness and grant us your salvation.) Romans 9:1-5 Alleluia from Psalm 130:5 I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for his word. Matthew 14:22-33 Jesus made the disciples get into…
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Swords and Pieces
JMJ✙ The Readings for the 15th Monday, Tempus per Annum Exodus 1:8-14, 22 Responsorial from Psalm 124 (Response: Our help is in the name of the Lord.) Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. (Alleluia) Matthew 10:34-11:1 “I have come to bring not peace…
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Seeds and Earthlings
JMJ✙ The Readings for the 15th Sunday, Tempus per Annum Isaiah 55:10-11 Responsorial from Psalm 65 (Response: The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.) Romans 8:18-23 The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower. All who come to him will have life forever. (Alleluia) Matthew 13:1-23 “My…
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Peniel
JMJ✙ The Readings for the Memorial of St Benedict, Abbot14th Tuesday, Tempus per Annum Genesis 32:23-33 Responsorial from Psalm 17 (Response: In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.) John 10:14 (Alleluia) Matthew 9:32-38 “Because I have seen God face to face,” he said, “yet my life has been spared.” Genesis 32:30 THE AUTHOR…
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All Saints: the Body of Messiah
The Readings for the Solemnity of theBody and Blood of Christ Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a Psalm 147 (Response: Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.) 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 John 6:51 (Alleluia: I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord; whoever eats this bread will live forever.) John 6:51-58 The Readings for the Sunday of…
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Barren Trees Die
JMJ✙ The Readings for the 8th Friday of Ordinary Time Sirach 44:1, 9-13 Responsorial from Psalm 149 (Response: The Lord takes delight in his people..) John 15:16 (Alleluia) Mark 11:11-26 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. Mark 11:14 (RSVCE) SO MANY SERMONS…
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Nothing Ordinary
JMJ✙ The Readings for the Visitation of Mary8th Wednesday of Ordinary Time Zephania 3:14-18a Responsorial from Isaiah 12 (Response: Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.) Romans 12:9-16 Luke 1:45 (Alleluia) Luke 1:39-56 The Lord your God is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with…
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Overcoming the World
JMJ✙ The Readings for 7th Monday after Easter Acts 19:1-8 Psalm 68 (Response: Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.) Colossians 3:1 (Alleluia) John 16:29-33 I have overcome the world. John 16:33 JESUS SAYS HE HAS OVERCOME the world. Yet, this is before his Crucifixion, before the Agony in the Garden – just before…
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In Downers, Hope
BY WAY Of method: selected verses from Psalm 88 (BCP ’79 translation – a personal fave) interspersed with the refrain from Psalm 136. Language was ironed out to be in the third person to match the refrain. Not all the verses of Ps 88 are used, just the ones that match my current #mood. The…
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I Don’t Want To Think
AN EMERGING PATTERN seems to indicate that more-common sins are ways to cope or deal with situations: like alcohol is used to numb the brain, so are other things. If “I don’t want to think about this just now” there are distractions with which to numb the pain. Those brain-numbing pain solutions are sins. Yes,…
