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The Greatest Commandment

Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time (B): Mark 12:28-34

Over this past year, we have seen many instances where people’s homes have been threatened – or destroyed – by wildfires, floods, or hurricanes.

Imagine that it’s your home that is threatened. You have just been told that you have thirty minutes to leave your home if you wish to save your lives. You can’t take everything with you, of course.

What do you save? The rest of your family, first of all. And then?  Your pets? Your wallet or purse? Some important documents? Your cellphone? Your laptop? Some clothing? A watch or piece of jewelry that came from a beloved grandparent? What do you leave?  In making these choices, you have had to set priorities. You discover what matters most to you. Not that you wanted to lose anything; but, when push came to shove, what was most important in your life? What defines you? What can you not live without?  Continue reading “The Greatest Commandment”

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The Cloak

Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time (B) – Mark 10:46-52

He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. – Mark 10:50

At the time of the year when visions of pumpkins, candy corn and black cats dance in our heads, it may be easy to miss the context of our Gospel for this Sunday. It takes place not in fall but in early spring. Passover is imminent. Jesus and his disciples are nearing Jerusalem. This is the last event Mark gives us in Jesus’ life before Holy Week. Everything that Jesus has been saying about his life and purpose is about to be fulfilled. Jesus will be put to the test. So will his disciples.  Continue reading “The Cloak”

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Saint Thorlak of Iceland

Patron Saint for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Telling the digital world that I am on the autism spectrum tends to draw certain kinds of birds to this blog’s nest. I have had feedback from a number of people who are also autistic – sharing comments, questions, and experiences with me. One of them, Aimee O’Connell, told me that she is involved with The Mission of St. Thorlak, a ministry for and with people on the autism spectrum. I had never heard of St. Thorlak before, but he is officially the patron saint of Iceland. Aimee O’Connell is among those who believe that St. Thorlak may have been on the autism spectrum himself. They are proposing him as a patron saint for autistic people. Continue reading “Saint Thorlak of Iceland”

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The Reconciling Family

Twenty-Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time (B)

Since the first reading and the Gospel for this Sunday deal with marriage and family life, I have taken article that I recently wrote for the Harvest on Pope Francis’ teachings on family life and used it as the basis of this blog post.  No one will complain if I steal from myself!

In The Joy of Love, Pope Francis explores the richness of marriage and family life in Catholic teaching from a number of angles. Here, I am going to focus on the family as the place where we first learn reconciliation.  Continue reading “The Reconciling Family”

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Fear And Trust

Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time (B)

One dictionary defines fear as “an unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger”. Fear has always been a part of human experience. Our earliest ancestors must have feared carnivorous animals, bad weather, disease, and other, possibly hostile, tribes – among other things. Even with all the advances that civilization has brought us, many of those ancient fears remain. Each century has found new fears as well. Not only that, but each one of us has things we are afraid of – things that might not be all that dangerous in themselves, but which symbolize for us some deeper, more threatening danger. It may a fear of heights, or of the dark, or of a certain animal. It may be fear of the unexpected or the unknown.  Whatever the face may be that we show to other people, most of us (if not all of us) carry in our hearts some fear or fears.  Continue reading “Fear And Trust”