In my sophomore year of high school I tried out for the play “Up the Down Staircase,” by Christopher Sergel, based on the book by Bel Kaufman. I did not expect much from the casting. In my high school years I was, to put it mildly, uptight. Straight-laced. Prudish. Moralistic. Narrow-minded. Stick in the mud. … Continue reading The roles we play
Month: March 2020
“Memento mori” — Finding life in the valley of bones
During this season of Lent, many of you may still be doing your taxes, or maybe recently finished your taxes. And, we often quip that taxes — our paying what is due to Caesar — is one of the two great certainties in this life. The other, of course, is death. For many — perhaps … Continue reading “Memento mori” — Finding life in the valley of bones
Memento mori…
Service of Noonday Prayer, March 29, 2020, the Fifth Sunday in Lent
Surrender to the river
When I was a child of about seven years old, my family drove from our home in Delaware to Dallas, Texas for a conference my father was involved in. It was the first time in my life I'd seen the Mississippi. My dad woke me, my brother and sister up — we were all asleep, … Continue reading Surrender to the river
Wisdom in the footsteps of Christ
Christ never promised us an easy path. On the contrary, if we plan to actually follow Christ — to really step into his bloody footsteps — we’re promised we will face hardship. This aspect of our discipleship is front and center in today’s reading from the Book of Wisdom. In this reading we delve into … Continue reading Wisdom in the footsteps of Christ
Walking away from our golden calves
A few years back I lost my job. It was a good job, with good stability and benefits. And then, one day, it was gone. I soon was recruited for a position in sales. This was a new undertaking for me, and one with which I wasn’t really comfortable. But, I needed a job fast, … Continue reading Walking away from our golden calves
Finding Christ in those left behind
If you had the chance to step outside your door today and find Christ -- to really stand in his presence -- would you take it? If we call ourselves Christian, would we not go to great lengths, undergo great trials, to stand before Christ? How much more, then, should we seek him if he’s … Continue reading Finding Christ in those left behind
Finding Christ in those in need
Noonday Prayer for the Feat of the Annunciation Readings for this service can be found here.
There are no shortcuts to the Kingdom
It’s never a good idea when I try to take a shortcut in the car. At some point in the late 1990s, when driving from Newport, R.I. to Delaware, I was certain I had a good shortcut to shave some time off my trip. Somehow, I ended up driving through Brooklyn, the Bronx and Manhattan … Continue reading There are no shortcuts to the Kingdom
Life with God isn’t in the rear view mirror
There’s a great scene — it may be the only good scene — in the 1976 comedy “The Gumball Rally,” about an illegal coast-to-coast car race. Italian race car driver Franco, played by Raul Julia, tells his racing partner (in a horribly exaggerated Italian accent): “And now my friend, the first-a rule of Italian driving.” … Continue reading Life with God isn’t in the rear view mirror
Noon Prayer — Fourth Sunday of Lent
Anointing in prayer
Anointing in the power of prayer
One of my favorite parts of visiting nursing home residents and those in need on the street is offering them the Sacrament of Unction. Also known as Ministration to the Sick, or simply prayer and anointing, the Sacrament of Unction is one of the seven Sacraments of the Church, and it is a sacred time … Continue reading Anointing in the power of prayer
Finding divinity in the drudgery of isolation
With all the church closings, the quarantines and perhaps a little more time stuck in the house than we’d like, it can be easy to lose touch with our spiritual center. I admit, I suffered no shortage of dismay when the church doors closed. But, this is a good time to reflect on how we … Continue reading Finding divinity in the drudgery of isolation
Seeing through the lens of Love
I grew up the son of a State Trooper. I served as a Naval Officer. And I served as a reserve sheriff’s deputy. It is fair to say, I’ve always had a healthy respect for the law. And, as a Christian, I -- like so many others -- have spent a great deal of time … Continue reading Seeing through the lens of Love
Turning the world upside down with forgiveness
How often should we forgive? And, how much should we forgive? This is one of the toughest questions of Christianity. Everything about our culture and human instinct tells us to get even — to exact revenge for any wrong done to us. But, then, we aspire to follow a Messiah who demands we set aside … Continue reading Turning the world upside down with forgiveness