Blog Archive
Contemplation in Action – Community – Prayer – Listening – Spiritual Direction – Nature
-
Five Gathered: A Reflection on Group Spiritual Direction
I had the bountiful blessing of making four very close friends this past week. It was not your typical friendship. Five individuals gathered together in faith, in silence, in prayer, and in profound empathy. The gathering was not by chance. No, something else, rather someone else, was at work — One I will call the…
-
Living Into Resurrection: The Redemption of Our Bodies
As the celebration of Easter Day fades, and we journey into the Easter season, I find myself reflecting on what it means now to live into resurrection. I celebrated the glorious redemption of Jesus’ body—his wounds have been transformed, alleluia! And yet, there are many bodies around me that are still suffering, whose wounds have…
-
So Many Annunciations!
The Feast of the Annunciation in the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar was delayed to April 8 this year since it fell on Monday of Holy Week, which takes precedence. It is a sign of the importance of this feast that, instead of skipping it, the Church rescheduled it so that it gets the respect it…
-
Good Friday, Scapegoating, and American Politics
Jesus, a victim of scapegoating, understood all too well its origin and its outcome. From the “Hosannas” of Palm Sunday to the “Crucify him!” of a few days later, Jesus witnessed the fears of the human heart and how easily those fears turn to blame. Good Friday marks the ultimate scapegoating, the crucifixion of Jesus…
-
The Power of Fasting
(Roy is co-leading the upcoming Holy Week Fast For Peace with Rev. Dr. Margaret Benefiel) Fasting formerly was a common spiritual discipline dating back to Biblical times. The practice continued through the early church up to the Reformation. During the Middle Ages, however, fasting fell into disfavor as it became linked with excessive ascetical practices,…