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My new office companion – Our Lady of Silence
I’ve welcomed a new companion into my office—the place where I meet people for pastoral counseling and spiritual direction: Our Lady of Silence. This modern icon was written by Capuchin friar Fr. Emiliano…
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The two voices of the spiritual life
One of the most important—and most difficult—questions in the spiritual life is this: How do I recognize the voice of God? In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us both comfort and challenge. He says,…
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Finding God in the Liturgical Dissonance
I returned to a beautiful little church in the Blue Ridge mountains after nearly a decade away, and felt a quiet disappointment. The church itself remains as striking as I remembered—perched on a…
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The strange companionship of sorrow and joy
We put our dog Mack to sleep last Friday. It was time—but that didn’t make it easy. I want to share the last lesson he taught me on sorrow and joy. Mack…
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Living the Resurrection in a Broken World
Two weeks ago, at the Strong Life rescue mission for the homeless, I had an experience that has stayed with me. It shaped my Palm Sunday homily, and now, in the light of Easter,…
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When quiet fails, discover God in the noise
I planned to write last week about Saint Teresa of Ávila’s “Prayer of Quiet.” Instead, at 8:30 a.m., the Terminix truck pulled up, someone arrived to install skylights, and a crew of carpenters…
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Entering into the Heart of Jesus
Homily for Palm Sunday. The Passion calls to mind the words first spoken by John the Baptist: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (Jn 1:29) I…
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Seeing a little hope for the throwaways
If God can do something so miraculous to a discarded pit, just think what God can do with you.
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When your plate seems way too full
Some weeks feel especially packed. This past one certainly did for me. Yet in the middle of it, I stumbled upon a new way to sort through the “delicacies” on my overflowing plate.…
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The Tap-Tap-Tap of the Holy Spirit
While hiking in the woods, I noticed an unusual sight: two trees standing side by side. They appeared to be the same age and type, likely sprouting from the same mother tree. Yet…
