Category: Cutting Edge

The story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus that we read during the Easter season is one of my favorites. I often wonder if I would have recognized the Lord walking the path with me. Hopefully I would, but, like the disciples, I may have not.

During these Sundays after Easter the Scripture readings tell of several appearances Jesus made to the disciples after his resurrection and how the faith of his followers (like Thomas) was challenged and deepened.

Today the resurrected Jesus is all around us in our daily lives. He is present in the persons we encounter. It is up to us to recognize him.

The story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus that we read during the Easter season is one of my favorites. I often wonder if I would have recognized the Lord walking the path with me. Hopefully I would, but, like the disciples, I may have not.

During these Sundays after Easter the Scripture readings tell of several appearances Jesus made to the disciples after his resurrection and how the faith of his followers (like Thomas) was challenged and deepened.

Today the resurrected Jesus is all around us in our daily lives. He is present in the persons we encounter. It is up to us to recognize him.

My experience has been that far too much of our lives are often spent running in the fast lane. Many people, myself included, seem to go from one thing to the next without much time for reflection in between. There are times when I actually long for the days when I would complain to my mother that I was “bored.” I had a hard time doing “nothing.”

Although my actions don’t always witness to it, I am convinced that we are not meant to live at such a rapid pace. We need time to reflect on our experiences and on our relationships, especially with God.

One of the major tasks of young adults is to discover God’s call. It is a process we all go through in one way or another.

Each of us has a unique call — one only we can answer. Discovering our call isn’t as easy as picking up the phone or texting a message to God or our pastor. It takes hard work to find out how God wants us to live our lives. We must take time for prayer and reflection that includes serious discernment.

The economic crisis our country is experiencing provides us with a wonderful opportunity to focus more on the true meaning of Christmas, rather than on the materialistic spirit that often permeates our Western culture.

Since so many people are unemployed or under employed and many family incomes are shrinking, a number of people will have to limit the type of gifts they give.

When you read the title of this column, you probably thought I was several weeks ahead of myself or that a little dementia had set in.

Well, I know what date it is, and I am not losing my mind, yet! The new liturgical year will begin on December 1 and, just like many people make resolutions to improve their lives at the start of the calendar year, the Season of Advent presents us with an opportunity to reflect on the spiritual aspect of our lives.

When most Catholics hear about Respect Life Week or Sunday they usually think of abortion and the sanctity of a child’s life in its mother’s womb.

Our call, however, is to respect all life. Our faith tells us that all human life, from the womb to the tomb, is precious and loved by God. Too often we concentrate on eradicating abortion, which is a noble and important cause, but we often neglect to speak out against the other ways human life is also disrespected.

Recently I have done some reflection on how I would relate the message of Christ’s death and resurrection to the world situation, particularly here in the United States.

Christ’s death and resurrection assures us that God has conquered evil and that good can, and does, come out of suffering.

I always love to read the signs outside of churches. Once I saw a clever one that asked, “Do you need a faith lift?” It was a good question that made me stop and think about my own faith life and where I need some spiritual Botox.

Now that we are in the dark dreary time of the year when life is cold and monotonous, at least in the Midwest, and we probably have broken many of our new year’s resolutions, it is a good time to reflect on how we need our spiritual life lifted. Lent is a perfect season for renewal.