Gentiles are Welcome here….

{ Mark 24-37} We read a lot in the Gospels about the relationship between Jews & Gentiles. Apparently the two groups did not like each other much. Today’s Gospel, once again, has Jesus working against the ” norm” . He is Jewish, yet when the Gentile woman came to Him for healing of her daughter, [...]

Who will stop the rain?

“And I wonder/still I wonder/ Who will stop the rain?” ~ CCR Seriously though, today’s Gospel lesson has Jesus & His disciples in the middle of a storm at sea. Ever since I’ve lived in Northwest Florida, I’ve been acutely aware of the power of moving water. Unless one has been through at least one [...]

You with ears–LISTEN!

Today’s Gospel lesson is the beginning of the series of parables that Our Lord teaches. Parables are not meant to be taken literally, and I am often amazed at how many of our sister & other Christians interpret these stories After all, in today’s Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples: “Let anyone with ears listen.” We [...]

Don’t be a mule!

I love how the Spirit works through the lectionary. And no, for once I am sincere and not sarcastic. The Psalms, especially, are wonder-full especially since he poetry found here covers every human emotion felt we humans. Part of the Truth { capital T} of God’s Word as revealed in Holy Scriptures is in its [...]

Worst week ever.Thanks Mr President!

Wow….what a lousy week. I feel helpless. And trust me, helplessness is NOT a feeling to which I take to naturally. The local newspaper did a special ” above -the-fold feature article on the life & death of the young Army officer  & native of my community who was killed { along with several others} [...]

Modern-day “Deborahs”

On Saturday I attended a womens’ contemplative retreat at my church. The topic was ” Womens’ Places in the Church”.  Naturally I came away from this time away with much” food for thought”. I am unapologetic about my feminist views. The first lessons/meditations were lessons from Paul & the Pauline writers.  Naturally these passages touched a nerve [...]

Psalm 143:10

This morning as I was rustling around some stuff in my bedroom searching for things that I need to bring to the church for Sunday School 2011, I came across a poster with the Scripture quote from Psalm 143. It goes something like this: “You are my God. Show me what you want me to [...]

Lent 5: Palm/Passion Sunday

My priest asked me to participate in the Passion liturgy this morning during the early Mass. I was Reader 2 in a three-part dramatic reading of the Passion Gospel….I readall the parts of everyone but Christ Himself & the narrator of this Gospel. But what kept re-entering my mind tis morning is an old song [...]

Prophets are a dire bunch….

This week for EfM we are looking at the book  that is attributed to the prophet Isaiah. Last week we learned that most, if not all, prophets  speak a message of gloom & doom . But what I found the most fascinating from this lesson was the ” call” story of Isaiah. Look  in Isaiah Chapter [...]

Parched Land into Springs of Water

{Psalm 107:33-43} Feast Day of St Joseph 2010 The title of this Psalm in my Bible is ” Thanksgiving For deliverance From Many Troubles”.  It is interesting to note that today’s selection of this Psalm starts off on a rather negative note. Listen to the words: “He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water [...]