By the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread, Until you return to the ground, from which you were taken; For you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Genesis 3:19 ____________ Work Work is man's gift and his curse. Curse We start life hating work. It's doing something we don't want to … Continue reading Work
Gracefulness
"Hail, full of grace!" Luke 1:28 ____________ Gracefulness Grace and gratitude It is interesting that the words "grace" and "gratitude" have similar etymologies. They derive from the Latin word gratus, which means both pleasing and thankful (pleased). This reveals a practical way of understanding John Paul II's description of mercy as "bilateral", or two-sided: An act of … Continue reading Gracefulness
Expectations
Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come! Hosanna in the highest! Mark 11:9-10 ____________ Expectations Lent of opposing expectations Most years, we expect a very round experience. Winter, spring, summer, fall. Every year, the cycle of holidays comes … Continue reading Expectations
The Joy of Humility
We proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:23-25 ____________ … Continue reading The Joy of Humility
Adoration
I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 ____________ Adoration Humility Humility can be summed up in this prayer: "Jesus, help me to love myself as you love … Continue reading Adoration
Mary
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel. Genesis 3:15 ____________ Mary The above passage is known as the Protoevangelium, the first gospel, the original good news. It is God’s promise that Satan, represented by the serpent, … Continue reading Mary
Sacrifice
But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his … Continue reading Sacrifice
Love One Another
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love [agapas] me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love [philo] you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do … Continue reading Love One Another
Sorrow and Sadness
In Tolkien’s Silmarilion, he describes one of the Valar, Nienna: [S]he dwells alone. She is acquainted with grief, and mourns for every wound that Arda has suffered in the marring of Melkor. So great was her sorrow, as the Music unfolded, that her song turned to lamentation long before its end, and the sound of … Continue reading Sorrow and Sadness
Self-Pity
In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ____________ Self-Pity Caveat mirator I recently read an examination of conscience especially written for single people. It focused on the vice of self-pity. Singles feel they don’t have that special someone to share everything with. … Continue reading Self-Pity
