Category: vocation

  • All is Grace

    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…

  • Why me?

    Why me?

    The text explores the unity of body and soul, dismissing the idea of a “female soul in a male body”, or vice versa. It affirms the defining influence of DNA on our gender and posits that humans are whole from conception, with distinct traits discovered later likened to ‘garments’. Notions of race and gender expression…

  • Byzantine

    Byzantine

    IT’S BEEN AN INTERESTING Year serving in a Byzantine Catholic Parish. There’s been a whole lot of learning – and some sadness. In 20 years as an Orthodox Christian, I was never once inside the Holy Place for the liturgy. Singing in choir was enough and – on those rare occasions (I can remember 3…

  • The Gift

    The Gift

    ONCE UPON A TIME, back in the days when you could go to see Santa Claus in the department store and he would give you presents that were not just sticky candy, two best friends, Jimmy and Billy, went to their local Belks before Christmas. They stood patiently in line and, when their turns came,…

  • Day 151: Parthenos

    Day 151: Parthenos

    But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. – St Paul, I Corinthians 7:32-33 THESE THREE ESSAYS…

  • A Mission, OP

    Always on Christmas, there is a sense of disconnection for me. Back when I thought I was going to be an Episcopal Priest there was the same sense of disconnect. My Family was hundreds (and later thousands) of miles away. My friends all did their family things. Later I discovered the “orphans’ Christmas” which was…

  • The Feast of St Barnabas

    JMJ I was in New York City for the Ordination of my friend, Linda, to the Diaconate of the Episcopal Church, to be held at the Cathedral of St John the Divine, the Largest Gothic Cathedral in the world. This was the Summer of 1985: I had taken a year off of NYU and moved…

  • Never be Thrown Away

    From: Meditations and Devotions By Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman Section 3:2 God was all-complete, all-blessed in Himself; but it was His will to create a world for His glory. He is Almighty, and might have done all things Himself, but it has been His will to bring about His purposes by the beings He has…