Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Left, Right, and Center
King Jesus marches with us
Fantasy fiefdoms.

2 Sm 5:1-3 / Col 1:12-20 / Lk 23:35-43

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Apocalypse now
Forms go extinct, Love remains
And the Dance moves on.

Mal 3:19-20a / 2 Thes 3:7-12 / Lk 21:5-19

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Vigilance, my friends,
Vigilance. The end is near,
Or not. Vigilance.

Wis 18:6-9 / Heb 11:1-2, 8-19 / Lk 12:32-48

Monday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

Look, our Golden Calf!
Now we will have it our way!
Yay! What could go wrong?

Ex 32:15-24, 30-34; Jn 11:19-27

Easter Sunday – The Resurrection of the Lord

"Seek what is above." There is a certain irony to our feast coinciding with April Fool's Day. Think of the values and intentions represented by these two holydays. Which does our world celebrate? And which does our culture find foolish? If we must be court jesters, let us at least serve a worthy king.

"Seek what is above." Some might see this attitude as a cop-out. We live on terra firma. We have real problems, that need real solutions. But how often do those solutions just generate new problems? And how often do they bring about the peace and joy that we crave? Do not be seduced by the demand for action. Rushing into the tomb does not guarantee an understanding of what one finds inside.

"Seek what is above." Be wary of false saviors and the kingdoms they build. They might look beautiful and taste sweet, but they never last as long as promised. Yes, most devotees of the cults of celebrity and politics mean well. They honestly strive to do good. But their focus will always be on the rewards of the here and now. Such gifts are merely dust, and to dust they shall inevitably return.

"Seek what is above." The world can be a dark and brutal place. We need hope. Our culture, however, excels at other things: virtual orgies; digital bread and circuses; intellectual dumpster fires; and worst of all, an endless supply of pharmaceuticals to numb the pain until we hit the grave, oftentimes thanks to the pills themselves. We cannot amuse our way into hope. We must find a different path.

"Seek what is above." Yes, I know, all I have given you are questions, problems, and concerns. Where are the solutions, the practical advice, the ten-point plans? If that is what you are looking for, go find a guru. I am a no-name prophet, offering foolish and wonderful grace. Take it, if you dare.

"Seek what is above." Alleluia! Alleluia!

Acts 10:34-43; Psalms 118:1-24; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-9

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

"Rise, and do not be afraid." My soul's ears heard those words a couple of weeks ago. It was the middle of the night at a beach house on the coast of South Carolina. A lightning storm was raging over the Atlantic Ocean, and our Parent told me to get up and listen. So I rose out of bed, found paper and pen, and wrote down every word they spoke to my heart.

Those words were published online yesterday as "The Third Revelation" at "The Book of We Are" website. They identify our Parent as both Creator and Destroyer, Giver and Taker. They ask us to revel in our momentary song on this rock, and to rejoice for the many dancers who will emerge in our wake. Some will be familiar. Some will be stranger than our wildest imaginations. All are our brothers and sisters. And all of us are the beloved children of our one Parent, with whom they are exceedingly well pleased. Not for anything we have done or built, but simply due to who we are: Family.

Along with this new revelation, and a complete cosmetic makeover, you will find several other new items at "The Book of We Are" website:

• The first journal entry, "Knowing You", has been restored to its original 1992 version. The language is a bit naive perhaps, but true to my relationship with God at the time.
• Two other writings from the early 1990s: "A Prayer of Dedication" & "My God"
• And four blog posts, slightly edited, three from "Family of the One" and one from this blog: "A Lesson for Thanksgiving Day", "A Lesson on Faith", "A Lesson on Revelation", & "Why Am I Still A Catholic?"

I am not ready to resume regular posting to this blog, but I did feel compelled to share the above information now, rather than later. I hope you will take a moment to check it out.

Daniel 7:9-14; Psalms 97:1-9; 2 Peter 1:16-19; Matthew 17:1-9