Holding Jesus’ Hand

Memory is a very strange affair. As it pertains to our recalled past experiences and stored knowledge, it plays a huge role in our sense of identity. We often evaluate ourselves on what we have done or failed to do, and on what others have done or failed to do. How strange that our self-image … Continue reading Holding Jesus’ Hand →

The Beautiful Heart

As a Protestant child, I was familiar with paintings of Jesus, but it wasn't until age 13 that I saw an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The face of Jesus was familiar, but something unfamiliar graced his breast. The heart of Jesus was shown on the outside of his robe. Thorns encircled his … Continue reading The Beautiful Heart →

We Are the Gift

It’s wonderful how Scripture continues to provide new insights from passages we have heard so many times before. Today’s Gospel reading was from Matthew 22:1-14. To paraphrase: The ones that a king invited to a wedding banquet refused to come in favor of their worldly pursuits, so the king filled his hall with other guests, … Continue reading We Are the Gift →

The Beauty of the Lord

One characteristic of a deep prayer life is a sincere appreciation of and longing for true beauty. In the Hebrew Scriptures, God is associated with the idea of beauty. This longing for the beauty of the Lord is expressed in Ps. 27: 4: One thing I ask of the Lord that I will seek after: … Continue reading The Beauty of the Lord →

The Gift of Freedom in Prayer

St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila) is well known for her writings on prayer. She recognized our real need for freedom in our prayer lives. This freedom is one of her greatest gifts to us, and at the same time, it can be a real challenge. The general way of praying recommended by St. Teresa is known … Continue reading The Gift of Freedom in Prayer →

The Mystery of Wisdom

From the earliest days of Christianity, the Church Fathers, Doctors of the Church, and Catholic theologians have grappled with the mystery of wisdom in the Hebrew Scriptures. In some passages, wisdom almost seems to be interchangeable with the Holy Spirit. (See Wisdom 1:6-8.) In other places, Scripture states that wisdom was created by God, and … Continue reading The Mystery of Wisdom →