St. Scholastica Monastery » Weekly Reflections

Another Word on Women’s Lib

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:24:58 +0000

In current attempts to extricate themselves from a male-dominated society, women have demonstrated their equality with men in the public arena of life. Indeed, in some instances, they have evidenced their superiority. However, if we learn anything . . .

Breaking the Barriers

admin — Thu, 03 May 2012 21:00:52 +0000

By now any seeds you planted this spring have probably sprouted and the life of each has managed to push its young plant up out of the earth, reaching for those open spaces which will allow it to develop most fully. If you have ever planted radishes and noticed the veritable earthquake their pushing makes . . .

Thinking Out of the Box

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:00:23 +0000

Most of us remember the game “Let’s Pretend” which allowed us to take wonderful excursions into unheard of lands and adventures. Parents and teachers, however, given dire warnings about such meanderings . . .

Finding Our Roots

admin — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 21:08:27 +0000

There has been a great upsurge for reviewing past events and people in our family histories today. TV shows have capitalized on this fact through various offerings, especially one headed by Louis Gates who assists famous, and not so famous people find their roots. Considering the length of time the program has been running, it must be a popular . . .

ALLELUIA! HE IS RISEN! Are we?

admin — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 05:15:43 +0000

"Spring has sprung." You know it with your whole being. The earth has come alive and you feel its movement above you and below you. Even the birds in your back yard know it. Have you noticed . . .

Empowerment

admin — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:33:44 +0000

Today we often hear the word empowerment used in regard to women’s rights, minority rights and so on. The idea conveyed is that recognizing others’ rights enables them to function out of the . . .

Closeness and Distance

admin — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 18:10:55 +0000

Ordinary life provides us with models exemplifying the benefits of a delicate balance of closeness and distance. Orchestral members tune up by playing the note given out by the concertmaster. In order to have music, however . . .

Holy Conflagrations

admin — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 19:54:23 +0000

Sometimes comments made by Christians give the impression that one of the joys they look forward to in heaven is seeing enemies receive their “just due.” Always, the implication is, of course, that the punishments meted out will compensate for the injustices done against themselves, not the other way around. One picks up, in [...]

Heartfelt Devotion

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 07:00:58 +0000

We may see the approach of Lent as a time of stirring up old flames of devout living for Jesus, a time of shedding the cold routines of “ordinary living” which have settled over us like thick dust the past months. If, however, at the end of Lent . . .

Chosen or Choosing?

admin — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:47:50 +0000

Chosen or choosing? Both. Every Christian, specially chosen, marked out as God’s own at baptism, is baptized into Christ’s death that she or he might rise to a new life: “Through baptism. . ."

When a Gift Is not a Gift

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:19:10 +0000

One day I was surprised to find an Old Testament passage which seemed to deal with a very down to earth practice: “Give to the most High as God has given to you, generously, according to your means” (Sirach 35:9). I was also puzzled . . .

Stories that Feed Our Imagination

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:56:47 +0000

Of all the stories told in Sacred Scripture, I am convinced no one can tell a fish story like St. John (Jn. 21:11). Perhaps I enjoy him so much is because he brings back a childhood ritual planted firmly in my memory—that of my mother . . .