In the Northern hemisphere, today is the shortest day of the year, the day when we experience the least sunlight. We’re still in the season of Advent, the season of longing and hope. Even if the preparations and Christmas celebrations of this season have had you feeling busy and stressed, you still have time toContinue reading “Light in the dark”
Tag Archives: waiting
O Come Emmanuel: Free us prisoners
Sitting next to me in another hard, plastic chair is a good-hearted man wearing brightly colored scrubs — colors that label him as guilty of a crime. We’re in a florescent lit room inside the county jail: bare white walls and glass windows, a camera overhead. There are about a dozen of us in thisContinue reading “O Come Emmanuel: Free us prisoners”
Entry into Advent: the pacing of discovery
Psalm 80 is often read in churches all over the world during the Advent season. Throughout this psalm of yearning we pray, “restore us, O God of hosts; show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.” I live in a neighborhood that shares rhythms of prayer each day. We are aContinue reading “Entry into Advent: the pacing of discovery”
In Its Time
“He has made everything beautiful in its time.” (Eccl 3:11) I am sorry to disappoint everyone but this beautiful passage, spoken ages ago, passing the test of time to get here today, was written just for me. I am sure of it. For the past few years, I’ve been a student of journeys. I’ve walkedContinue reading “In Its Time”
Praying to Slow so Silence may Swallow
In the time of now-and-not-yet tangled together, I pray that my final days of Advent anticipation shall slow down and seem more sacred. Poetry pours from my soul as I offer God this hope. Silence swallows by Julia Walsh, FSPA Silence swallows me. Holy is this invasion. Enter mystery. Evasion impossible. Listening lines lift upContinue reading “Praying to Slow so Silence may Swallow”
Street violence and holy darkness
This past Monday one of my former students was shot and killed on the streets of Chicago. Advent is a time of darkness. Sometimes it is obvious to us that there’s a such thing as holy darkness. And, sometimes the darkness is so cold and heavy that it seems to swallow our hope. During Advent weContinue reading “Street violence and holy darkness”
Advent is drawing to a close
By guest blogger: Amy Nee Advent is drawing to a close, Christmas is almost upon us. Once again, I feel that the days have passed all too quickly. I seem to have been too busy to attend to advent. Now Christmas Day is around the corner and I have this uneasy feeling that I’ve missedContinue reading “Advent is drawing to a close”
in stillness we wait
Guest blogger: Sarah Hennessey, FSPA We have entered the holy time of the O Antiphons. Like a mysterious extra holiday something is special and different today. Expectation is heightened. The glory is near. For you, O lord, my soul in stillness waits. My soul may be still, but the world is not. The chaos onlyContinue reading “in stillness we wait”
the power of paradox
Our world is a mess and in need of redemption. Christ is coming to save us. Yet, Christ the Light has already come to save us and we are redeemed now. The Kingdom of God is now and not yet. There’s a power in the paradox that teaches us how to hold out hope. YesterdayContinue reading “the power of paradox”
Pregnant with hope
Guest blogger: Amy Nee – entry originally published at http://www.catholicsoncall.org/pregnant-hope Scripture Reflection for the Third Sunday of Advent (December 11, 2011) Scripture Readings: Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11 Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 John 1:6-8, 19-28 When truth is spoken it illuminates more than just the person. The light stretches its filamented fingers, lacing them throughContinue reading “Pregnant with hope”