Surprise: New Life
Last week the lawn where I live was brown with bald patches. When Jim came to mow it, I ran out and asked, “Why are you doing this?” He assured me that after a rain the grass would spring up again. Looking at the ugly dead lawns all down the street, I doubted him. But sure enough. Today after a good soaking rain, the lawns are green again. This makes a neat metaphor. Theologically speaking, it symbolizes the condition of the human race. We once were dead because of sin. Then Jesus came, shed his blood on the cross, and we have new life. I’ve seen other death-to-life scenarios. (more…)
St. Joseph, a Father Figure
My niece and her husband are newlyweds trying to sell their houses. Brian is Jewish, but both of them buried a little statue of St. Joseph in their yards. This popular custom no doubt arose because Joseph was head of the house in the Holy Family and a carpenter (or construction worker) at that. I reminded my niece that after a house sells, the statue is supposed to be exhumed and set in a place of honor in the new house. She knew that. (more…)
Saying “I’m Sorry”
The other day I explained to a postal clerk at the post office that a box I had mailed arrived empty. She curtly said, “There’s nothing you can do about it.” Period. Pursuing the matter, I spoke to an employee on the phone. Her first words were “I’m so sorry this happened to you.” What a difference! She couldn’t help me much either, but her sympathetic apology made me feel better! Words are powerful. For good reason our parents taught us to say “I’m sorry” as well as “Please” and “Thank you.” (more…)
Musings on Sunflowers as Symbols
This past weekend I was in Kansas to speak at a catechetical conference. I felt right at home because the state flower of Kansas is the sunflower. This bright, yellow flower is special to my Notre Dame community, thanks to our spiritual mother, St. Julie Billiart. She encouraged us to be like the sunflower. It always faces the sun, turning to follow the sun’s journey from east to west during the day. This flower seems to know that the sun is its source of life. St. Julie said that we should keep our eyes on God the same way. (more…)
Communion of Saints at Mass
In preparing to give a workshop on the liturgy, I was struck by a truth that seldom comes to mind: As we praise and thank God at Mass, all of the angels and saints are with us. This includes all of our loved ones who have “crossed over” and are now with God. They are all present but in another dimension, worshiping God right along with us: St. Francis, Mary Magdalen, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Michael the Archangel, our grandparents, and deceased friends. Actually, it’s not so much that these holy ones join in our liturgy as that we join in theirs. (more…)
