Category Archives: Uncategorized

In his classic "The Imitation of Christ," Thomas a Kempis says, ‘Enjoy being unknown and regarded  as nothing.’  Regarded as nothing?  For a guy for whom being liked is a high value that ain’t easy.For me to survive without the oxygen of recognition is hard.  I like to be stroked and praised.  It’s one ofContinueContinue reading “Enjoy being unknown at Christmas”

When I was in high school my choir sang Dona Nobis Pacem during a Christmas concert.  This morning I found myself singing it.  Dona Nobis Pacem is Latin for "Give us peace."  In a Catholic mass the Dona Nobis Pacem is sung to invoke the presence of the Lamb of God."Lord Jesus, as we prepareContinueContinue reading “Give us peace”

One of the enduring images I ponder during Advent is of Jesus the infant being sneaked in behind enemy lines as a tiny baby.  I got the image from philosopher Peter Kreeft.  No one would have thought of this strategy, says Kreeft, except the Master of the universe himself.So today’s Advent thoughts are of howContinueContinue reading “Christmas occurs behind enemy lines”

On this first Sunday of Advent we read from the Old Testament … "The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.  For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. … For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.  The government willContinueContinue reading “The first Day of Advent”

You may remember The Human Genome Project, the landmark effort to sequence the DNA of our  species, that was complete in 2003.  Companies are now arising to capitalize on this project.  23andme is offering genotyping for a mere $999.000.  The company scans your DNA for several hundred thousand of the telltale variations that make youContinueContinue reading “A Christmas present made personal”

This morning in my devotions I read of one of the countless martyrs who have gone to be with the Lord.   He is one amid a myriad of martyred saints who joining the whited-robed army of martyrs praising God and crying "Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might" …"The Holy Martyr Philumenos sufferedContinueContinue reading “Stay alert shoppers…”

Saying the Apostles’ Creed has long been part of my morning devotions.  Recently I have been praying the Te Deum Laudamus, an early church hymn traditionally ascribed to Saints Ambrose and Augustine, on the occasion of St. Augustine’s baptism by St. Ambrose in in AD 387.  [Like the Apostles’ Creed, no one really knows itsContinueContinue reading “Te Deum Laudamus”

Psalm 106 [New Living Translation]"Like our ancestors, we have sinned.  We have done wrong!  We have acted wickedly!  Our ancestors in Egypt were not impressed by the Lord’s miraculous deeds.  They soon forgot his many acts of kindness to them.  Instead, they rebelled against him at the Red Sea.  Even so, he saved them –ContinueContinue reading “Pitiful memories, all…”