Reflections
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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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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…
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Don’t romanticize the high in the spiritual life
A couple of weeks ago, I had a good heart-to-heart talk with Mark (who has given permission to share). He’s homeless but on a hopeful path. Eight weeks ago, he was sleeping in…
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Unhurriedness – the key to a rich spiritual life
Early Saturday morning, my wife and I set out on the two‑and‑a‑half‑hour drive to Raleigh for my grandson’s birthday party. As we were getting ready, my wife asked me to sign the card—a…
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A Lenten Challenge: Respond to Holy Discontent
Last Saturday, I had the privilege of presenting on Dilexi Te, I have loved you, Pope Leo’s exhortation on the poor, co-sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy and Catholic Charities of Charlotte. Seventy generous…
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Surprised by some unexpected evangelists
Pope Leo, in his inaugural exhortation Dilexi Te, says something that initially struck me as almost unsettling: “Let [yourself] be evangelized by the poor and acknowledge the mysterious wisdom which God wished to share…
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Suscipe: A beautiful prayer when Jesus is silent
I was meeting with a man in the middle of an ugly divorce. All he wanted—desperately—was reconciliation with his wife. Each attempt to reach out, however well-intentioned, was reported as a violation of…
