It is my Breviary that most often reminds me of various saints being commemorated by the Church around the world. So when I have a day or two when something bumps my attention away from praying the Divine Office, someone I love as dearly as St. Teresa of Avila can sneak by completely unnoticed. Her […]
Need Hope in Dark Places? Look at Jesus’ Descent into Hell
It is possible in a theological statement to get something quite wrong, and yet, at the same time, to say something good and true and helpful. In a way, that may be the only kind of theological statement we can make. I think that is what happens in Question 44 of the Heidelberg Catechism. (I’ve […]
Resurrection of the Body: This Is Not Your Culture’s Afterlife
Our culture goes two opposite directions on life after death. Both are a long way from Christian faith and hope. On the one hand we have sentimental universalism. It can be the soft-focus flowers and clouds of greeting card theology, trying to comfort the grieving. It can be stories of near death experiences in the […]
What Was That Name Again?
If there is one word in Scripture that I wish English translations could do a better job for it would be in the very first petition of the Lord’s Prayer. “Hallowed be your name.” Nobody says “hallowed” in ordinary conversation — so day after day, week after week, a whole lot of Christians pray for […]
And Where Does JESUS Want Your Community to Go?
From the response to Monday’s post one thing is clear: I’m not the only one who cares about community and mission. It seems like a bit of a flash point, actually, whether people see community life leading to mission or as something that stands on its own. I want to explain why I’m on this topic: Jesus cares […]