Friday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Sketch by Brie Schulze

Today we celebrate venerable Bede, one of our most prolific ancient commentators of Sacred Scripture.  His reflections have inspired Christians for centuries.

Christ certainly does not leave any ambiguous points about divorce.  The tradition of the Catholic church also does not give any indication that divorce is an acceptable solution to a sour marriage.  Marriage has been weakened in modern times because of the general lack of spiritual formation – people don’t have a very deep sense of the meaning of human existence.  Many people have found themselves caught in a situation where the decisions they have made in a state of immaturity or imprudence have set their lives on a course they would like to somehow alter for the sake of the possibility of happiness.  In general, we have lost faith in the fact that happiness is not for this life but for eternal life.  The idea that marriage is what is supposed to finally make us happy feeds the illusion and expectation that there is some way of life here on earth that we should not gladly trade for eternal life.  There are many goods that a marriage between virtuous people affords, and great experiences of mercy and forgiveness between Christian spouses – the human experience of marriage is only for this earth however, there is no marriage in heaven. read more

Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Art by Brie Schulze

The beatitude of the poor is one of the more difficult both to understand and to live well. The temptation to hold on to one’s wealth as though it were something necessary that we can’t part with hides cleverly behind the guise of false prudence. I don’t want to give any money to this beggar because they will not use it well: they will buy drugs or alcohol. I will hold on to my money instead so that some day I can use it for something important. St Paul gives us the example of living both in poverty and in abundance. read more

Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Sketch by Brie Schulze

We have departed in many ways from the ancient thought that pronouncing a name was a way to wield power.  In an age where privacy is a tenuous and uncertain good, the power of a name should begin to strike us in a new way.  When we give our name out, we give a certain power over ourselves to others.  Most of the time we are ok with this because we expect some kind of service in return.  To be identified as somebody in particular by our name makes relationships with others possible, makes us vulnerable and our activity or behavior can be linked back to our concrete self.  You only have a past, you only have a history in the eyes of others, because you can be identified.  Change your name, change what identifies you, and your history disappears. read more