A short little reflection on words by Romano Guardini, The Rosary of Our Lady: The word is something very rich, alive, even mysterious: a formation of sounds and consonances by which the speaker gives the listener a glimpse into the inner realm of thought. To a certain degree this might be done by a simple […]
I recently rediscovered a rare moment of inspired creativity I had left as a comment to this article back in March, 2008, “No Resistance is Futile”. The form of haiku— Like banks of a river flows Creativity The point of the article, and the website too, is that limitations, restrictions, or boundaries narrows ones focus […]
My Brother Joseph reflections are now located at All is Gift. Last year, with permission from my principal, I started writing weekly (or biweekly) short email reflections for my co-ministers at the Catholic high school where I teach. I assumed anonymity in the nom de plume of Brother Joseph because it was not about me […]
O Lord Jesus, Your words to your Father were born out of your silence. Lead me into this silence, so that my words may be spoken in your name and thus be fruitful. It is so hard to be silent, silent with my mouth, but even more, silent with my heart. There is so much […]
In a narrative essay titled “Teaching a Stone to Talk” (found in the book by the same name), the author Annie DIllard describes an eccentric man trying to teach a stone how to talk. Several times a day, he removes his stone from the shelf, a dark gray, “palm-sized oval beach cobble”, and proceeds with […]
From Br. Joseph — This is the sixth reflection on seven signposts for the season of Lent (and for all seasons). Pray always. Prays always; if necessary, use words. Our words in prayer are very important, be them words of gratitude or of amazement, words for forgiveness, or words of need for others or for […]
God does not reside in the tomb of my thoughts or words.
You realize that prayer takes us beyond the law. When you are praying you are, in a certain sense, an outlaw. There is no law between the heart and God. (Thomas Merton) I have been mulling over this quote I discovered a several days ago. It bothers me. It is from a writer and spiritual sojourner that […]
This statement by Ronald Rolheiser, from his book The Shattered Lantern, got me to wondering. When there is no pattern to our actions we experience meaninglessness. Just because I do not recognize or perceive a pattern, does this mean that there is no pattern? Would God do this to me or to us? Would He […]
What did God whisper to the bird to make him sing? What was said to the rose to make her unfold? And to the tree to stand tall and spread its canopy? What did the cricket hear to make him chirp all night? And what word stirs the wind to blow, Sometimes gentle, sometimes with […]
In The Courage to Be, Paul Tillich describes bad and painfully wrong theology. The God of [bad] theological theism is a being beside others and as such a part of the whole of reality. He certainly is considered its most important part, but as a part and therefore as subjected to the structure of the […]
Your words to me just a whisper Your face is so unclear I try to pay attention Your words just disappear ‘Cause it’s always raining in my head Forget all the things I should have said So I speak to you in riddles ‘Cause my words get in my […]
It is easy to write words about the consolations of love. Just look at all the love songs and poems. But how does one describe the love for another for love’s sake, for who they are, what they are, for themselves and not what they give? The word “love” is too short to describe what […]
Anytime I find something coming in threes within the church, I always assume that it represents the Trinity. My favorite example is: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna […]