Tagged: January 2012

A New Mourning

 January 2012

Five-year-old Amy anxiously asked, “Is my mother here?”

“Amy, how nice to see you!” exclaimed Mrs. Murphy. “Won’t you come in and visit for a while?”

Amy’s big brown eyes darted past Mrs. Murphy and peered into her parlor, hoping to see another person there. Disappointed, she answered, “No, thank you, Mrs. Murphy. I’m just looking for my mother. I know she sometimes stops here on her way home from shopping.”

What do I say to this child? Mrs. Murphy asked herself, turning a little pale. Then, regaining her composure, she said, “Amy, please come in for a minute. I just happen to have some gingerbread cookies! How about having some milk and cookies with me?” tempted Mrs. Murphy as she remembered the last time she had seen Amy. 

 

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I’ll Stand By You

heart_rice_1.jpgSpiritual Maturity

Part Four of Six

Jesus sees Jerusalem in front of him. One can hear his heart breaking in his simple, earthy words, “How many times I yearned to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you were unwilling!” (Mt 23:37). Jesus has walked long, hot days to get here. He wants to put his arms around these people and embrace them. And yet he knows this is the city that kills prophets and stones those who are sent to it.

New Ways of Continuing Christ’s Healing Ministry

Catholic institutions: As I mentioned earlier, many orders of religious women in particular are turning their health care facilities over to lay boards and administrators who promise to continue the sisters’ legacy, specifically, to look after the sick, the suffering, the frail, and the dying as if they were looking...

When Necessary, Use Words

January 2012 I come from a long line of storytellers—an uncle who can turn a nugget of memory into a family legend, a dad who wants everyone to understand “the rest of the story,” and a father-in-law whose favorite saying is “let me teach you something.” It’s a trait that has...

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Making Change

As we ring in this new year, we are given the opportunity to change our behaviors or attitudes. Catholics, of course, are encouraged to throw themselves wholeheartedly into this practice during Lent. However, counsel from all corners tells us there’s no time like the present to begin. So, too, with...