Don’t Fret. Be Patient. God Cares.

On Sunday mornings I like to watch Dr. Charles Stanley while I eat breakfast. This week he mentioned that God says, “Do not fret,” three times in Psalm 37. I had to check it. He was right. This was new to me, although I did know that in the Bible God says, “Do not be […]

Trust in the Time of Pandemic

Some time ago a friend gave me this little bird along with the scripture verse “Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feed them. Are you not you more important than they?” (Matthew 6:26) The bird sits next to my […]

Praying with the Senses a la St. Ignatius

When I give talks on the Bible or on prayer, I usually encourage people to try praying with all five senses. St. Ignatius recommended this way of bringing the Gospel stories to life and using them as a springboard for prayer. As an example, I unpack the story of the healing of Bartimaeus from Mark […]

Swimming in God, the Omnipresent One

A little boy was afraid to get the broom out of the dark closet for his mom. She assured him, “Don’t be afraid. God is everywhere.” So the little boy cracked open the closet door and called in, “Hey, God, would you hand me the broom?” God is omnipresent. We are never alone because God […]

So Does God Exist?

In Stephen Hawking’s last book, which will be published posthumously, he answers questions that he was asked most frequently. Among these is “Do you think God exists?” Hawking’s answer was essentially no, it is impossible that there is a god. This opinion of a renowned scientist contradicts what people of different cultures have believed down […]

Words from our Blessed Mother Mary from My Devotional

I don’t know about you, but during these past weeks several of my friends have been undergoing severe trials: cancer, car accidents, death of loved ones. Such ordeals shake our faith and we wonder, Why do we suffer? and even, Is there a good God? At our chicken barbecue last month, during a random reading […]

What Is a Missionary Disciple?

At the National Catholic Teachers Association convention next year, I will be speaking on prayer. The organizers asked me to rework my talk’s title and description to reflect the theme “missionary disciples.” In doing research, I discovered that Pope Francis used this term in his encyclical “The Joy of the Gospel,” and this year our […]

Trusting in the Lord for Miracles

Saturday’s first reading at Mass included the angel’s words to Abraham about Sarah becoming pregnant at the age of ninety: “Is anything too marvelous for the Lord to do?” This is echoed by the angel Gabriel when he tells Mary that the elderly Elizabeth will bear a son: “For nothing will be impossible with God.” […]

Who Is This God We Believe In?

Last week I listened to a panel discussion about God, sponsored by Notre Dame College’s Abrahamic Center. A Jesuit priest, a rabbi, and a Muslim were to answer three questions, but never got beyond the first one, “Who is God?” Their talks and the discussion that followed provided much rich food for thought. In this […]

A New Year Poem to Recall God’s in Charge

My present to you:  An encouraging poem as we face this new year. Happy New Year! God Knows by Minnie Louise Hoskins   And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.” And he replied: “Go out into […]