Arrogance and Awesomeness
It’s time again for Elizabeth Esther’s Saturday Evening Blog Post. Each month Elizabeth invites fellow bloggers to share their favorite post of the month and gives us the opportunity to meet new...
View ArticlePride (In the Name of Love)
In this weekend’s homily, Deacon Dave Pecot shares what it means to have a healthy sense of pride and the ugliness that results in having a pride of faith. You can listen here.
View ArticleDo your work, and then forget it.
Maxim #26 of Fr. Thomas Hopko’s 55 Maxims for Christian Living is one that makes me think. On the one hand, it encourages me to do my part with the gifts I have been given. On the other hand, it...
View ArticleBe simple, hidden, quiet and small
Be simple, hidden, quiet and small. Maxim #31 Yesterday I made the decision to move away from frequent posts on the continuing battle over religious freedom that has been at the forefront of national...
View ArticleThink and talk about things no more than necessary
Think and talk about things no more than necessary. Maxim #35 When speaking of this maxim, Fr. Thomas Hopko reminds us of the wisdom of the Church Fathers who say, “We often repent of idle talk, but...
View ArticleEnduring Temptation
As often as you find your way to be peaceful, without variations, be suspicious. For you are deviating from the divine ways trodden by the weary footsteps of the saints. The more you proceed on the way...
View ArticleCovering Our Mistakes
On Saturday we finished working on the icon of St. Elias. The last step of writing an icon is placing the white line on the halo. We call it the omega line. This last step is always stressful for me...
View ArticleMerton On Humility
A humble man can do great things with an uncommon perfection because he is no longer concerned about incidentals, like his own interested and his own reputation, and therefore he no longer needs to...
View ArticleHow To Become A Magnifying Glass
Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Visitation. The Gospel reading of the day recalls Luke’s account of Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth which includes Mary’s joyful prayer we now refer...
View ArticleDon’t Defend or Justify Yourself
Don’t defend or justify yourself. Maxim #44 “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of people, for they will hand you over...
View Article42
“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives” -Jackie Robinson Several of my summers as a college student were spent working for a program run by Johns Hopkins University...
View ArticleIt’s Just True
A bit dated, but very wise words from Conan O’Brien. It always impresses me to see someone who can recognize their blessings, even when the world would rather see them succumb to self pity and anger....
View ArticleBlessed Are The Poor In Spirit
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3) I have often heard Christians express their happiness that Matthew’s account of the Beatitudes begins not as Luke...
View ArticleBlessed Are The Meek
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5) If it is the meek, the helpless, the disabled, who will inherit the earth, this is perhaps because the earth, God’s earth, the real...
View ArticleBlessed Are The Merciful
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7) “I see clearly that the thing the church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful;...
View ArticleO God, be merciful to me, a sinner
Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a...
View ArticlePope Francis urges new cardinals to have simple and humble hearts
Vatican City, 13 January 2014 (VIS) – Published below is the letter sent today by the Holy Father to the future cardinals to be created on 22 February, whose names were announced publicly following the...
View ArticleWhen giving alms, it is best to avoid trumpets.
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as...
View ArticlePope Francis on Christian Unity
This video of Pope Francis speaking to a Pentecostal Conference on Christian Unity captures his humanity quite well. He radiates simplicity. My favorite quote from the pope’s short message: “And let’s...
View Article
More Pages to Explore .....