[Pearls Episode 144:  Preparing for Sunday.] This Sunday’s readings turn our attention on the End Times.  And so in this week’s Pearls episode we’re looking at four particular events believed by some to be associated with the End Times and have recently gained prominence – probably in no small part due to the increasing trials Read More >

[Pearls Episode 144:  Preparing for Sunday.] November is here – the Month of Holy Souls.  A time to pray for our faithful departed – that they are fully reunited with our Lord in Heaven.  It is also a time to bring to mind the “big sleep” that awaits all of us – Memento Mori.  But Read More >

[Pearls Episode 143:  Answering atheism Tuesday.] We’ve been looking at the story of Zacchaeus.  As a “chief tax collector” Zacchaeus would have had worldly consolations at his fingertips – wealth, servants, influence. But worldly consolations mostly appease “the flesh” – the fallen aspect of our human nature that leads us into sin and prevents us Read More >

[Pearls Episode 143:  Bringing Sunday into the workweek.] We’re looking at the story of Zacchaeus – and in him we are given a model for identifying our own obstacles to seeing Christ. There is a beautiful ribbon of mysticism that ties Sunday’s first and second readings to the Gospel story of Zacchaeus.  In the first Read More >

[Pearls Episode 143:  Preparing for Sunday.] As we look ahead to Sunday’s scripture, there are a number of major spiritual themes playing out in the story of Zacchaeus. We noted yesterday that he was “vertically challenged” – and that kept him from seeing Jesus. The Church Fathers (who we’ll hear more from in a moment) Read More >

[Pearls Episode 143:  Preparing for Sunday.] This Sunday’s Gospel reading brings us the height-challenged Zacchaeus.  His desire to see Christ motivated him to overcome his vertical limitations with the help of a sycamore tree. In this week’s Pearls of the Interior Life, we dig deeper into this with the help of St. Augustine and Meister Read More >

[Pearls Episode 142:  Answering atheism Tuesday.] We’ve been looking at two related scripture passages, “The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds,” and “the one who humbles himself will be exalted,” and how they relate the mystical masterpiece The Cloud of Unknowing. In those scripture passages we find the power of simple, humble prayer.  The Read More >

[Pearls Episode 142:  Bringing Sunday into the workweek.] We pray you had a wonderful Sunday and your workweek is off to a great start.  Karen was on retreat this weekend, so on this post you’re stuck with just Steve. We’ve been looking at “the prayer of the lowly that pierces the clouds.”  In the postscript Read More >

[Pearls Episode 142:  Preparing for Sunday.] Sunday’s first reading, from Sirach, tells us – “The one who serves God willingly is heard; his petition reaches the heavens.  The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its goal, nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds, judges justly Read More >

[Pearls Episode 142:  The Cloud of Unknowing.] Last Sunday’s scripture readings brought us Moses (Ex 17:8-13), watching over and interceding for the battle against Amalek, and Jesus (Lk 18:1-8) guiding us with those two powerful words – “pray always.”  Those passages gave us a great reminder of some basic principles: All of scripture points to Read More >