This Sunday's gospel reading will be the conclusion of the narrative of Jesus reading from the prophet Isaiah in his hometown synagogue. His neighbors, knowing his roots (including, one would presume, his scandalous birth circumstances), were a tad skeptical of the stories they'd heard of him from abroad, and his response to their skepticism further roused their ire against him.
It makes me consider who, in my life, I think I know so well that I quickly dismiss them without considering whether God may be speaking to me somehow through them. I believe God uses the circumstances of our lives, especially our relationships with those around us, in remarkable ways. I also believe we miss a lot of the messages for failure to value the vessels through whom they are given us.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Super Bowl menu
In recent years, we've nurtured a tradition of planning the dinner menu for Super Bowl Sunday around the teams in the game. Some years present a bounty of options; other years, not so much. The Bills introduced us to Buffalo wings, the Bengals to Cincinnati-style chili, and the 49'ers to sourdough bread. New England has been a boon. Pittsburgh was a bit of a challenge; I can't even remember how we represented them, besides Heinz condiments. My all time favorite was definitely SB XXXV: crab cakes for the main entreé, with an authentic NY style cheesecake for dessert (the latter was nearly as good as the family recipe, though completely different in style).
But as nearly as I can tell, there is a serious dearth of signature food items for Chicago and Indianapolis -- an additional reason I was rooting for the Saints! Fortunately, I have the first of the two covered. After all, Chicago is the home of deep dish pizza, and there's a Pizzeria Uno within 6 miles of our house. Still, we've been to Chicago and, like most of the locals I know there, our definite preference is for Giordano's stuffed pizza. Oh, how I want to order from there, but the additional shipping cost may lead us to fall back on Uno's.
Preliminary research indicates that the "signature" items for Indianapolis (or, more generally, for Indiana) are breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches and sugar cream pie. The latter should be doable, I'd think. Any Hoosiers (is there another term for someone from Indiana? Indianans just doesn't seem right!), feel free to leave suggestions, especially if you have a particularly delectable recipe for sugar cream pie!
But as nearly as I can tell, there is a serious dearth of signature food items for Chicago and Indianapolis -- an additional reason I was rooting for the Saints! Fortunately, I have the first of the two covered. After all, Chicago is the home of deep dish pizza, and there's a Pizzeria Uno within 6 miles of our house. Still, we've been to Chicago and, like most of the locals I know there, our definite preference is for Giordano's stuffed pizza. Oh, how I want to order from there, but the additional shipping cost may lead us to fall back on Uno's.
Preliminary research indicates that the "signature" items for Indianapolis (or, more generally, for Indiana) are breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches and sugar cream pie. The latter should be doable, I'd think. Any Hoosiers (is there another term for someone from Indiana? Indianans just doesn't seem right!), feel free to leave suggestions, especially if you have a particularly delectable recipe for sugar cream pie!
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Reflections on Psalm 19
We're singing this Psalm this weekend, so I found myself reflecting on it this morning. Random thoughts:
Lord, you have the words of everlasting life: I don't know (without looking it up) if this refrain we're singing is an actual verse of the psalm or merely an added responsory. Still, it seems worth an observation. It represents the disciples' response to Jesus when many followers had left him because his words were too cryptic or challenging for them. This is also true: "Lord, You are the Word of everlasting life."
The law of the Lord is perfect: We will never find a way that is superior to God's perfect Way. We worship what we think of as our superior intellect, without realizing we are not intellectually more developed than our ancestors of whom we read. We may be more learned, more technologically advanced, and more civilized, but we aren't any smarter, and we would do well to recall this from time to time. God's word isn't any less applicable than it has ever been, either, or any less perfect.
. . . refreshing the soul: Considering the perfection of God, our fundamental need for him, and, most particularly, the fact that God will never fail to meet that need for us, is indeed the refreshment for which our souls long. Though we look to slake our thirst with all sorts of other pursuits and pleasures, God alone refreshes us.
The Lord's rule is to be trusted: We insist on trusting only ourselves, when our judgment (on our own) is least trustworthy. Our vision is clouded by our emotions, our wants, our hurts and fears. The Lord's rule and guidance are reliable where our self-determination is flawed.
The simple find Wisdom: Society would dispute it, but simple faith is of greater value than our greatest sophistication.
The fear of the Lord is holy: There's that phrase "fear of the Lord" that is so off-putting. If only we would fear offending or hurting God as much as we fear so many other circumstances in our lives.
. . . abiding forever: When we dwell in God, we find our eternal home.
The command of the Lord is clear: When we choose our own way, it is rarely for failure to see God's way. The path God sets before us is usually very straightforward. But since our faith is usually in ourselves, we too often choose our own evaluation, our own wants, instead of the clear guidance God has given us.
giving light to the eye: I just came from our second graders' first Reconciliation service. The image of the light of Christ, and of restoring that light when we have chosen darkness, was powerful. The Way which God sets before us is illuminated and illuminating. We may not always see the second step ahead of us, but the first one is generally well lit, and we need only trust that the next one will be when we get there, too.
the precepts of the Lord are right: We want to decide right and wrong for ourselves, but no amount of self-deterministic morality will ever lead us in right paths. God's Word, particularly as manifested in Christ Jesus, will not lead us anywhere else.
they gladden the heart: When we embrace God's guidance, we find the desires of our heart fulfilled. (Sometimes that's because our desires have changed to match God's!)
The decrees of the Lord are true: I've been alluding to the Way, but let's not forget Jesus said he is the Truth, too.
. . . all of them just: In our society, we tend to doubt this. We see some which we think cannot be just. But will we trust our own judgment, or will we seek a way to conform ours to God's?
They are worth more than the finest gold: No treasure we can possess can ever rival the gift of knowing and living God's will.
. . . sweeter than honey from the comb: God's desire for us is far sweeter than our greatest ambition for ourselves!
Lord, you have the words of everlasting life: I don't know (without looking it up) if this refrain we're singing is an actual verse of the psalm or merely an added responsory. Still, it seems worth an observation. It represents the disciples' response to Jesus when many followers had left him because his words were too cryptic or challenging for them. This is also true: "Lord, You are the Word of everlasting life."
The law of the Lord is perfect: We will never find a way that is superior to God's perfect Way. We worship what we think of as our superior intellect, without realizing we are not intellectually more developed than our ancestors of whom we read. We may be more learned, more technologically advanced, and more civilized, but we aren't any smarter, and we would do well to recall this from time to time. God's word isn't any less applicable than it has ever been, either, or any less perfect.
. . . refreshing the soul: Considering the perfection of God, our fundamental need for him, and, most particularly, the fact that God will never fail to meet that need for us, is indeed the refreshment for which our souls long. Though we look to slake our thirst with all sorts of other pursuits and pleasures, God alone refreshes us.
The Lord's rule is to be trusted: We insist on trusting only ourselves, when our judgment (on our own) is least trustworthy. Our vision is clouded by our emotions, our wants, our hurts and fears. The Lord's rule and guidance are reliable where our self-determination is flawed.
The simple find Wisdom: Society would dispute it, but simple faith is of greater value than our greatest sophistication.
The fear of the Lord is holy: There's that phrase "fear of the Lord" that is so off-putting. If only we would fear offending or hurting God as much as we fear so many other circumstances in our lives.
. . . abiding forever: When we dwell in God, we find our eternal home.
The command of the Lord is clear: When we choose our own way, it is rarely for failure to see God's way. The path God sets before us is usually very straightforward. But since our faith is usually in ourselves, we too often choose our own evaluation, our own wants, instead of the clear guidance God has given us.
giving light to the eye: I just came from our second graders' first Reconciliation service. The image of the light of Christ, and of restoring that light when we have chosen darkness, was powerful. The Way which God sets before us is illuminated and illuminating. We may not always see the second step ahead of us, but the first one is generally well lit, and we need only trust that the next one will be when we get there, too.
the precepts of the Lord are right: We want to decide right and wrong for ourselves, but no amount of self-deterministic morality will ever lead us in right paths. God's Word, particularly as manifested in Christ Jesus, will not lead us anywhere else.
they gladden the heart: When we embrace God's guidance, we find the desires of our heart fulfilled. (Sometimes that's because our desires have changed to match God's!)
The decrees of the Lord are true: I've been alluding to the Way, but let's not forget Jesus said he is the Truth, too.
. . . all of them just: In our society, we tend to doubt this. We see some which we think cannot be just. But will we trust our own judgment, or will we seek a way to conform ours to God's?
They are worth more than the finest gold: No treasure we can possess can ever rival the gift of knowing and living God's will.
. . . sweeter than honey from the comb: God's desire for us is far sweeter than our greatest ambition for ourselves!
Sunday, January 14, 2007
An apology
Okay, for the first time ever, I've taken a post down.
My blog has never, like, had any READERS, so I've never much worried about what I've posted here. I'll be more sensitive in the future.
The offending post was COMPLETELY tongue-in-cheek.
Note to T: I think it's GREAT that you're involved with the kids and, contrary to my post, I wasn't at all offended by your gifts to them. I apologize for hurting your feelings. I've never felt that you or any of your family are ignorant. Quite the opposite, and despite my "poor judgment" gag, I think the world of your brother. I hope the misunderstanding was just a matter of us not knowing each other well enough. But not realizing I was joking, I can understand why it would offend. Feel free to call us (get our number from C.) if you like, so that I can apologize more personally.
My blog has never, like, had any READERS, so I've never much worried about what I've posted here. I'll be more sensitive in the future.
The offending post was COMPLETELY tongue-in-cheek.
Note to T: I think it's GREAT that you're involved with the kids and, contrary to my post, I wasn't at all offended by your gifts to them. I apologize for hurting your feelings. I've never felt that you or any of your family are ignorant. Quite the opposite, and despite my "poor judgment" gag, I think the world of your brother. I hope the misunderstanding was just a matter of us not knowing each other well enough. But not realizing I was joking, I can understand why it would offend. Feel free to call us (get our number from C.) if you like, so that I can apologize more personally.
Public responsibility within one's sphere of influence
I was just reading, with great sadness, the news stories of the young boys who have hung themselves in imitation of videos they've seen of Saddam Hussein's hanging. The thing that strikes me is how our communication can have meaning vastly different from what we intended by it. I'm sure the news services had no inkling that their broadcasts could have these results; the fact that their intentions were completely different from the effects on these young lives, now tragicaly cut short, is of no comfort to the families now in mourning.
This strikes me particularly sharply because of having recently written words that were taken at face value, rather than being received in the joking manner I intended. It isn't the readers' fault that they didn't know my intentions. The words were pretty strong, so why would a reader who doesn't really know me take them at anything other than face value?
Now I pray that I haven't created a problem that was a lot bigger than the joke I intended my words to be.
This strikes me particularly sharply because of having recently written words that were taken at face value, rather than being received in the joking manner I intended. It isn't the readers' fault that they didn't know my intentions. The words were pretty strong, so why would a reader who doesn't really know me take them at anything other than face value?
Now I pray that I haven't created a problem that was a lot bigger than the joke I intended my words to be.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Wonderful Christmas
Merry Christmas!This started out as a post about the wonderful music I was privileged to be part of for our parish Christmas masses. But as I reflected on that, including my small part in it, I quickly realized that I was in danger of getting my Christmas celebration a bit out of context.
Christ, my Savior, is born! The eternal Word has taken on human flesh, and now my life contains a joy for which I could not otherwise hope!
Love has come!
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Welcome Nic!!
Our newest grandson was born yesterday, and I hope his mom doesn't kill me for posting her post-partum picture on the site! (And it still amazes me how great she looks after childbirth.)
Children are such a joy!
Next up: we'll see how "big" sister (at 16 months) manages to adjust to not being the center of the universe!
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