Spiritual Directions for the Journey
Posted in Reflections from the Pulpit - Wandering with Deacon Mike, Stuff for Wandering on Feb 11th, 2012
Looking up to God by reaching down is the title I have chosen for today’s homily. Many people pray by looking up to heaven. There is nothing wrong with this. However, we often fail to realize that our God is all around us and to see him we may well have to reach down with [...]
Posted in Big Questions, Reflections from Fellow Wanderers, Reflections from the Pulpit - Wandering with Deacon Mike on Feb 9th, 2012
This year at our meetings for our local St. Patrick’s Friends of Dismas group we have been exploring what it means to live a life of compassion, one of the great Christian virtues. Below is talked called Reconnecting with Compassion: by Krista Tippett on TED.com . A good place to start any discussion is at the [...]
Posted in Big Questions, Reflections from Fellow Wanderers, Reflections from the Pulpit - Wandering with Deacon Mike, This Sunday on Feb 8th, 2012
In yesterday’s “This Sunday” post we find two interpretations of this week’s reading from two priests, Fr. Robert Barron and Fr. Scott Lewis, whom I highlight each week. Fr. Robert Barron could be considered a Catholic apologist (for more (and I mean more) on Apologetics click here.). In this homily, Becoming Fit for Worship, Fr. [...]
Posted in Big Questions, Reflections from the Pulpit - Wandering with Deacon Mike on Feb 8th, 2012
The story of Jesus healing the man with leprosy is found in all three of the synoptic gospels. This is a measure of the importance of this interaction in the minds of the evangelists. Mark is the only one, however, to include that Jesus was moved by compassion. Interesting? Mark 1: 40-42 And a leper [...]
Posted in Big Questions, Reflections from Fellow Wanderers on Jan 27th, 2012
I was listening to Krista Tippet, the host of the radio show On Being, and she had Sylvia Boorstein as her guest . Sylvia is a celebrated Jewish-Buddhist teacher and psychotherapist, mother, and grandmother. She is delightful as well as insightful and if you would like to read or listen to the entire interview please [...]
Posted in Parents and Kids on Jan 18th, 2012
I’ve noticed that one thing about parents is that no matter what stage your child is in, the parents who have older children always tell you the next stage is worse. -Dave Barry
Posted in Parents and Kids on Jan 4th, 2012
Posted in Big Questions, Reflections from the Pulpit - Wandering with Deacon Mike on Dec 31st, 2011
After the shepherds departed having told them what the angels had said we are told that “Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” Mary “pondered” (to think about (something) carefully, esp. before deciding or concluding.) – What did she really know? Here is a song called: Mary Did you know? I [...]
Posted in Reflections from the Pulpit - Wandering with Deacon Mike on Dec 17th, 2011
One of the truly amazing gifts of being Catholic is the rich theology and teachings we have been given through the years about the Blessed Virgin Mary. Through the ages we have come to understand the role of Mary through the teachings of the Church, by numerous masterpieces of art and in a special way [...]
Posted in Books/Movies/Podcasts for the Road on Dec 1st, 2011
I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit the Holy Land on several occasions with a gifted guide. Experiencing the land where our Christian story began is a powerful experience. This Advent season you will get the opportunity to explore the story of the birth of Christ in a unique way through [...]
Posted in Reflections from Fellow Wanderers, Stuff for Wandering on Nov 26th, 2011
The No New Gifts Holiday Challenge is a post written on a blog called zenhabits by master blogger Leo Babauta. Leo has been at this blogging thing for a while now, runs multiple sites, has written several e-books. He has pioneered the idea of the “uncopyright” which means his ideas and stories are free for [...]
Posted in Big Questions, Reflections from Fellow Wanderers, Reflections from the Pulpit - Wandering with Deacon Mike on Nov 25th, 2011
Here is a comment I received about my November 20th Homily: Lord when did we see you!. The e-mail below is responding to my story about Nancy, a young woman who did time for a car crash that left a young mother dead. Dear Deacon Mike, I have to say your homily on Nov 20 [...]
Posted in Big Questions, Reflections from Fellow Wanderers on Nov 23rd, 2011
This Sunday the Catholic Church introduces the 3rd Edition of the Roman Missal. Basically some of the words of the mass will be changing so they are closer to the Latin text used by the Church for 450 years before Vatican II. In the video below, produced by Life Teen, you will get a fast [...]
Posted in Big Questions, Reflections from the Pulpit - Wandering with Deacon Mike on Nov 18th, 2011
Here is a picture of an ex-con named Charlie. I will not go into detail of Charlie’s case other than to say it was a long and complex situation. Charlie died several years ago and at his funeral his friends gathered to remember this man who struggled but managed to spend the last 10 years [...]
Posted in Reflections from the Pulpit - Wandering with Deacon Mike on Nov 16th, 2011
Here is a short video that explains the history of this feast day. As you listen to it you might notice how little seems to have changed since 1925. (Hit the “X” on the Google ads when they appear to get rid of them.)
