Every created being has an end. The book of Psalms has an end, and so does our study of this book. (Until we start again!) With Psalm 145, we are at the beginning of the end. Psalm 145 is the preface to a series of five psalms of praise that end the psalter. It is […]
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Peter Maurin, co-founder of the Catholic Worker with Dorothy Day, once said, “We need to create a world where it is easier to be good.” But is there a chance that that world is not a religious one, at least the way we are familiar with religion? Will that be a result of the changing […]
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There’s something in the Bible for everyone: for young lovers full of vigor, seniors struggling with disability, for kings and leaders, for the poor or depressed, for simple farm laborers, for family members. That’s part of the beauty of Scripture. It can also be problematic because people often chose to manipulate Scripture to fit their […]
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Do you struggle to know when to stop? Do you have to have the last word in an argument, add a jab at your opponent? Such appears to be the case for the writer of Psalm 143. Not Knowing When to Stop We all know the type. They make a good point in a presentation […]
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If prison walls could talk . . . you would hear stories as unique as all of the individuals who have resided therein. The walls of Long Kesh prison in Northern Ireland would have tales of hunger strikes and protests as IRA prisoners demanded to be treated as political prisoners and refused to put on […]
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Spiritual giants have long known the importance of examining their life on a daily basis to see where they have strayed. This tradition is a long standing one, going back to Ignatius in the 1500’s, however we see a hint of it in Psalm 141. Psalm 141 Psalm 141 is a spiritual gem. It is […]
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The next four psalms in the psaltery, Psalm 140-143, are laments, perhaps in preparation for the explosion of praise and thanksgiving found in the last five psalms. Our psalm for this week, Psalm 140, reminds us that conspiracy theories are nothing new. With all of the conspiracy theories around, this psalm reminds us we need […]
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Icons are a form of religious art designed to lead the viewer into prayer. The eyes are the mirror into the soul, the focal point of the Icon. A friend and mentor of mine on the spiritual path shared her experience with religious Icons. My friend went into a workshop on praying with Icons thinking, […]
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In my thirties and forties, I remember encouraging others to start preparing for their retirement, not just financially, but mentally and spiritually. Everyone ages, but not everyone ages with grace. You can’t expect to reach sixty or seventy or eighty, and become magically gracious, kind, loving and wise, if you never practiced any of these […]
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I’ve been fortunate. I don’t know what it is to go hungry. Nor do I know what it is like to live in exile from all you know and love. The writer of Psalm 137 knows what it is like to live in exile. Statue of Liberty One of the myths about our current immigration […]
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