when chaos storms Capitolsor your fragile heart and mindthe God of order restoresthe law of love remainswhen fatigue bends your body or your ambition, motivationthe God of rest renewsrestoration is comingwhen heartache breaks you downand you are crushed, cryingthe God of comfort holdsfeeling grief is holywhen fear is the fire that burns youand you areContinue reading “God is with us in all this hardship”
Tag Archives: Christianity
Hope, not fear, during power transition and other uncertain times
In less than a week, votes will be counted. In less than a week, we might know the results of the election. We may know who our new — or returning — elected officials will be. It seems to me that many of us are nervous — or terrified — about what is to comeContinue reading “Hope, not fear, during power transition and other uncertain times”
Marlena Graves: The dangers of money, power and influence
Marlena Graves: The dangers of money, power and influence Season 1. Episode 9 of Messy Jesus Business, hosted by Sister Julia Walsh IN THIS EPISODE: In episode nine, Sister Julia speaks with Marlena Graves the author of The Way Up Is Down. They discussed her new book and its message about downward mobility and discipleship, how justiceContinue reading “Marlena Graves: The dangers of money, power and influence”
Lay down the weapon of good intention
A few years ago, my partner and I were invited to speak with a small group of white Catholic North Americans visiting Bolivia. My partner, from Bolivia, was asked to speak briefly with the group about Andean spirituality, and I was asked to translate his words from Spanish to English. (I am sharing this storyContinue reading “Lay down the weapon of good intention”
Kateri Boucher, Geez: Contemplative Cultural Resistance
Kateri Boucher / Geez magazine: Contemplative Cultural Resistance Season 1. Episode 7 of Messy Jesus Business, hosted by Sister Julia Walsh IN THIS EPISODE: In episode six, Sister Julia speaks with guest Kateri Boucher from Geez magazine. Together they discuss contemplative cultural resistance, prophetic voices, composting, urban gardening and how the United States is an empire. ABOUT THE GUEST:Continue reading “Kateri Boucher, Geez: Contemplative Cultural Resistance”
Sister Alison McCrary: Challenge the Status Quo with Love
“If we’re really doing the Gospel work, our work is not to be loved by everyone. If we’re really challenging the status quo in the way that Jesus did we’re not going to make everyone happy. It is uncomfortable. It also means taking risks, it also means putting your body on the line.” -Sister Alison McCrary SFCC
Franciscan prayer for all of us: a conversation with Jon Sweeney
What does it meant to pray like a Franciscan? This question is one that I reflect on regularly. It’s part of my tendency to informally self-evaluate, to ask myself how I am doing at living my vocation. Typically, the question leads me right to Jesus on the cross. As modeled centuries ago by Saints FrancisContinue reading “Franciscan prayer for all of us: a conversation with Jon Sweeney”
When perpetual adoration takes on a new meaning
For more than 141 years, since Aug. 1, 1878, the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration have maintained the practice that gives us our name. Along with our lay prayer partners, one of us, at all times, has been praying before the consecrated host in our adoration chapel in La Crosse, Wis. Our congregation has enduredContinue reading “When perpetual adoration takes on a new meaning”
System upset, then and now
During a sacred meal with his friends, the rabbi mixed-up the ritual. When he stood and put a towel around his waste and carried a bowl of water across the room, he caused confusion. His followers exchanged glances, but stayed quiet, not asking questions. They stared as he knelt before the man with the longestContinue reading “System upset, then and now”
The coronavirus, the cross and our vocation
I wasn’t sure what it would look like, or how terrible it would be, but deep in my gut I felt something squirming. An awareness. A knowing. An intuition. I had a feeling that bad days were ahead. I am fairly certain that my intuition that we were heading toward a humanitarian crisis wasn’t unusual.Continue reading “The coronavirus, the cross and our vocation”