Monastery of Our Lady of Gethsemani

Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.  For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture—“I believed, and so I spoke”—we also believe, and so we speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. (2 Cor 4:1-18)

Yesterday, the Charlotte Diocesan Office of Economic Opportunity sponsored a day of reflection for seniors in our parish—and we have many seniors. It was a wonderful day. I have been teaching for two months now in various venues. It was a treat to sit back and be taught. Continue reading →

Bethany Spring Retreat Center

I had the privilege of leading a retreat at Bethany Spring Retreat Center near Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky last weekend. The topic was “Contemplative Living and Nonviolence: Jesus, Gandhi, and Merton.”

As you can see from the picture, Bethany Spring is a farmhouse and a cozy center for small retreats. There are two hermitages on the campus in addition to the farmhouse. The director of the center is Jonathan Montaldo who is Associate Director of the Merton Institute for Contemplative Living http://www.mertoninstitute.org/ Continue reading →

The days are evil. Yes, Paul they are. Pope John Paul II warned us that we live in the culture of death. Jesus ushered in the culture of life and, as in the reading from Wisdom, invites us into the house where choice foods and fine wines have been prepared for us. Jesus invites us in to eat his flesh and blood. He is our food for the journey into life.

Evil times, troubling days. Debates over financial recovery, immigration, and health care have destroyed the civility in politics. The angry few believe that whoever shouts the loudest and nastiest will win the debate. (I wonder how many of the angry few in the TEA Party and the UN-Fair Tax crowd are angry because a Person of Color is at the helm in the White House.) Continue reading →

Go Placidly amid the Fray

Brothers and sisters:
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,
with which you were sealed for the day of redemption.
All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling
must be removed from you, along with all malice.
And be kind to one another, compassionate,
forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. (Eph 4:30-5:2)

How timely is Paul’s message as we get an hourly dose of footage of people shouting, shoving, and reviling one another. Civility is gone. Dialogue does not exist. Paul re-centers us—be kind to one another. Continue reading →

Let us look at the setting for today’s Gospel:

Tyre and Sidon were cities in Canaan on the coast of the Mediterranean NW of Galilee.

The Canaanite, the foreigner, was a woman and a foreigner.

The Canaanites, disposed of their land by the Israelites, were bitter enemies. The woman crossed ethnic boundaries to seek the same healing Jesus had given to women in his own country. Jesus ignored her. The disciples wanted to be rid of this bothersome woman. She refuses to be put off. She demands her place at the table. Continue reading →

Be renewed-Mountain Lake - Click to enlarge. ENJOY!!!!

To fully understand today’s reading from Paul (1 Cor 4:7-15), we need to back up a few verses to get the context. Light shines out of darkness to reveal the face of God in the face of Jesus the Christ. As far back as Moses, people have expressed the desire to see the face of God. They feared that, if they saw the face of God, they would die; however, they still yearned for the intimacy of seeing the face of God. Jesus shows us the face of God. God did not grant Moses wish. Instead, God showed Moses the backside as God passed by. Continue reading →