Young adults are notorious for giving their hearts to whatever zealotry is fashionable in their generation. Any parent, […]
Sacraments
“Actions speak louder than words.” We’ve all heard this, right? It is not what you say that matters, […]
Today marks the one year anniversary of “Two Weeks to Flatten the Curve.” I’m reminded of the scene […]
The Christian Church has a secret. This is something it has tried hard for many years to keep […]
Saint Luke is the only gospel writer who tells us something about our Lord between His birth in […]
The featured character of the season of Advent, the main guy we always end up spending time discussing […]
I love The Incredibles. Yes, I’m a woman in my 30’s, and I still unapologetically enjoy many animated films, especially ones that give […]
Every Sunday, she was distracted by that picture. Tried not to look for too long, because it made her uncomfortable, but she couldn’t get it out of her head. And there, just on a forgotten wall down the church hall. She thought maybe they should have covered up that picture years ago, like all the other ones. But for some reason, they forgot this one.
Quiet and relaxed. Temperature was just right. Breathing slowly, purposely, focused on the black emptiness behind my eyelids. Listening to the hum of a fan that spun just a little too loudly above my head. No, don’t think about the fan. Blank it out. Open my heart, as I inhale. Breath rushes in through my nose, tickles my throat, and swells my lungs. Is my heart open? Imagining each throb spreading wider and wider the little muscle that pulses in my chest. But no, that’s not right. Not my literal bloody heart behind my ribs. Open my spiritual heart, did I do it? Am I open? Ugh. Stop filling my thoughts with these stupid questions. Clear my mind so I can hear his voice.
The 17th chapter of John’s Gospel has been given the unofficial title of the High Priestly Prayer. The whole chapter contains the words of an intimate prayer between the Son of God and our Heavenly Father. A prayer that happens on the night in which he was betrayed, the very night he knows that his disciples will all abandon him, they will be scattered and afraid as he begins the horrible trials of suffering and betrayal that culminate in his crucifixion on that fateful Friday afternoon.