Material Beings

There is no good trying to be more spiritual than God. God never meant man to be a purely spiritual creature. That is why He uses material things like bread and wine to put the new life into us. We may think this rather crude and unspiritual. God does not: He invented eating. He likes [...]

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Surrender to His teeth

I spent much of last year looking into the jaws of the Lion, but still avoiding them. Surrendered to his teeth? But that meant … death. Not just a wound. Not even just a deep cut. Giving myself to the teeth of the Lion would mean the end of me. The. End. Of. Me. And [...]

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BE More

I’ve found that it’s not about asking guys to do more; it’s about asking them to be more. It’s not about asking them to pursue a plan or respond to a cool idea or even to a dare. It’s about convincing guys, deep down, that being God’s man is worth the risk. Why is that? [...]

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Theology of the Body: Hope in Resurrection

Christ’s resurrection is a reality “ingrafted” in our humanity. Even though our bodies are sown “in weakness” and are “perishable,” we bear in ourselves at the same time, “the interior desire for glory.” God put it there “in the beginning”—not to frustrate us by dashing our hopes, but to lead us to fulfillment in him. [...]

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Today’s Reading from the Rule of Benedict

TODAY’S READING FROM THE RULE OF BENEDICT Chapter 72: On the Good Zeal Which They Ought to Have Just as there is an evil zeal of bitterness which separates from God and leads to hell, so there is a good zeal which separates from vices and leads to God and to life everlasting. This zeal, [...]

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Theology of the Body: The Task Given to Us

The Creator has assigned the body and the gift of sexuality to man as a task. It is the task of discovering the truth of our humanity and the dignity of the person. It is the task of embracing our redemption and growing in purity so that we can fulfill ourselves and bring joy to [...]

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Wounded Heart – Will You Set Me Free

So long ago I drew a line For myself in the sand Time after time I moved that line when I crossed it again and again Here we are back at the same old place Down on the ground on my knees Will you set me free? + Mike Roe, “I Buried my Heart at [...]

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Driving the Nails

I’ve been driving the nails firmly in your tree You’ve been talking to your Father on behalf of me Nothing at these check points I care to defend So why do I raise the hammer up and drive the nails again? + Bill Mallonee/Vigilantes of Love, “Driving the Nails” (1995)

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Obedience As an Act of Humility

The first degree of humility is obedience without delay. This is the virtue of those who hold nothing dearer to them than Christ. + Rule of Benedict, Chapter 5 The self-giving of real obedience is very clear to Benedict. When we follow the voice of the ones who call us to higher service, we put [...]

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Focus on Things You CAN Control (Repeat Post)

DIARY OF AN ADDICT (Repeat Post) There were good words for the addict at today’s meeting. Conversation and reflection today gravitated to the issue of control. A number of the recovering addicts talked about the issue of control in their world. What things do we do to try to impose our wills on our surroundings? [...]

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