God bless the parish with soul! Even at a Catholic Mass, you can generally get a witness among such an assembly. By witness, we mean an affirmation that what the preacher says is true. A witness of this kind is basically what we intend to express by our every “amen.”
The Passion story is the greatest drama spread across the Christian imagination. It breaks into our assembly every year with a shivering, overwhelming impact. It is so large and yet so familiar that we can scarcely take it in.
My younger sister and I had a terrific argument some time back that wounded both of us terribly. Normally we are the best of friends, allies, and partners-in-crime
All crucial biblical movements tend to follow the path of “E.” Consider the expulsion from Eden, the story of the Exodus, and the great Exile to Babylon. Each is an abrupt and unexpected journey from one unthinkable situation to another.
I led a Bible study at my parish for several years. Each time we met, I tried to unpack at least one “Big Bible Word” to help the average Catholic get over the inadequacy we all feel about approaching this book. One week, the word was monotheism.
What’s so good about going to church? One would like to believe that for the tens of millions of Catholics in this country who define themselves as “practicing” their faith, engaging the identity of church has been a positive and powerful experience.
Animal stories in the Bible have tremendous appeal. They are the first scripture stories to which we are introduced as children, in part because illustrators find them very enticing subjects.
Why are we human beings generally so uncomfortable in our own lives? Why is our existence such a poor fit, despite everything we do to make ourselves at home in this world?
What’s the main topic of the Bible? Pose this question, and you’ll get a variety of answers: sin, salvation, love, law, morality, or meaning. Few will suggest that the Bible is mostly about healing and wholeness. Yet some scripture scholars and not a few Christian doctors have made that argument persuasively.
One of my favorite teachings from the epistles is almost a throwaway line from Colossians 3:21: “Fathers, do not nag your children, lest they lose heart.” That’s the old ICEL translation from the breviary, anyway.