Cenacle Journal
Posted in Acceptance, Christmas, God Among Us, Joy, Wonder on Dec 23rd, 2012
Some years ago I attended a performance, by a local church choir, of Handel’s Messiah. It was unusually well done, but what impressed me most was not the performance, but one of the singers. You will remember that during “For Unto Us A Child Is Born,” the music builds until it reaches a climax in [...]
Posted in God Among Us, Presence, Suffering on Feb 9th, 2012
A plumbing ad from the local paper: ATTENTION HOME OWNERS: No other plumber makes you this golden guarantee… “MY PLUMBER WILL SMELL GOOD AND SHOW UP ON TIME OR I’LL PAY YOU!!” Now I can think of worse ways to approach life than smelling sweet and being on time. But oh, if only life’s dealings [...]
Posted in Christmas, God Among Us on Dec 23rd, 2011
God has become one of us. “And therefore,” says Karl Rahner, “everything is different from what we imagine it to be.” God is here, and all creation is being led toward its fulfillment in love. When we say, “It is Christmas,” we mean that God has spoken into the world his last, his deepest, his [...]
Posted in Beauty, God Among Us, Turned Toward God on Aug 14th, 2009
Soon after making first vows in the Cenacle, I was sent to be on the staff of our large retreat house in Saint Louis. Since we offered a full schedule of spiritual programs ― retreats, days and evenings of prayer, spiritual direction, directed retreats, and more ― I met many people. Some, however, stood out [...]
Posted in Eucharist, God Among Us, Mindfulness on Nov 21st, 2007
One day last week during daily Mass, just as the priest was about to begin the Eucharistic prayer, there was a clatter at the side door. This door opens onto the sidewalk and is always locked from the outside. It happens every so often that someone tries to get in that door, figures out that [...]
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