The Greatest Prayer
Like so many women before her, she suffered a devastating miscarriage. It was the end of the first trimester, a time when she thought she was “safe.” She and her husband had gone in for an ultrasound. They could see the baby on the monitor and were excited, not understanding that the silence of the…
Eat This Bread
Covered in whiteImmobilized by coldWe await new lifeDrowned in liesMired in scandalWe await new lifeConsumed by greedHungry for powerWe await new lifeShake off your fogFeel the fire withinMy Life is in youReach for the TruthStep into the WayMy Life is in youEat of my fleshDrink of my bloodMy Life is in you John 6:54-58 “Those…
The Butterfly Dress
She was born with serious medical conditions. Rejected and abused, she was put in the system. When they got the call, the foster parents were told that she would be a hospice baby, with only weeks to live. Would they take her? They didn’t hesitate, these parents with open hearts; they said yes. Melissa would…
The Red Suit
Sunday is never a day of rest for the parish liturgist and sometimes, in the busyness of the small details, it can be hard to remember why we gather together. This day was no exception. There would be a baptism at the early Mass and the font had to be filled by hand. The visiting priest arrived and…
Marriage Vows
I take you to be my spouse. I promise to be faithful to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honor you all the days of my life. They raised six children, losing one at the age of two. They had never been rich in…
The Winning Team
The food is ready to go and the drinks are chilling. The house is mostly clean – mostly the bathrooms and the TV room. We’ll root for the underdog team because our team wasn’t even close and we like rooting for the underdogs. We’ll watch the commercials and pick a favorite. We’ll talk when the…
Be Doers of the Word
It was a very cold, sunny morning. Excitement filled the nave as the children gathered, the girls in their white dresses, the boys in suits and ties. Parents and grandparents, siblings and aunts and uncles looked for their reserved pews. The other parishioners found seats where they could. It was First Communion Day, and it…
The Water’s Fine
He was absolutely adorable, shiny black hair and chubby cheeks the perfect foil for his 3-year-old giggle. He ran and climbed, slipping in and out of his parents’ not-fast-enough grips. Dressed all in white, because today he was going to be baptized, he exuded joy and innocence and Life. His parents and godparents, aunts and…
Light in the Darkness
It’s January 3rd and the news says that tonight we’ll be able to see the first meteor shower of the year, the Quadrantids. NASA reports that the Quadrantids are some of the brightest meteors, fireballs, in fact. As the days slowly get longer, Nature is reminding us that darkness doesn’t last forever. As Christians, we…
The Christmas Miracle
The deep red poinsettias glowed against the dark wood steps. Hundreds of white lights sparkled on the evergreen trees. The candelabra were lit and the baby Jesus lay in his manger bed, but he was hidden by the coffin. It was quiet and peaceful, everyone waiting for the funeral to begin. Then it was time,…