Daily Theology
Conversion
The Mission: Choose Your Own Penance
Between high school, college, and my PhD program, I have spent nearly 14 years being formed intellectually and spiritually by Jesuits. Thus it should come as no surprise that Roland Joffe’s The Mission, a moving film about Jesuit missionaries in South America in the middle of the 18th century, holds a special place in my … Continue reading
The Evangelization of Emmanuel
The XIII Ordinary Session of the Synod of Bishops will be held in Rome October 7-28 on the theme, “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith.” The Emerging Theologians Network, in partnership with the International Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs (ICMICA-Pax Romana), is collecting blog posts on the synod’s theme. … Continue reading
Theological Education or Evangelization?
“What is the role of faith in the classroom?” In light of the upcoming Synod, we may even ask: “can the classroom be a place for evangelization? The previous posts in Theological Shark Week III all shed light on different aspects of this important question. For those of us teaching core (required) theology classes in … Continue reading
Leave Room for the Holy Spirit: Pentecost as the Source of Religious Freedom
After Easter, Pentecost is my favorite Christian feast day. Often called the “birthday of the church,” the experience of Pentecost has a lot to say about the way we live as Christians and the way we relate, as church, to the world. In John’s version of the Pentecost experience (Jn 20:19-23) [more famous for doubting … Continue reading
Why I Am Fasting From Facebook
Lent started yesterday with Ash Wednesday – famously described on Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update as “the day Catholics freak out their co-workers.” The topic at many a cafeteria table, CCD class, or living room was “what are you giving up for Lent?” Or, in more Jesuitically-influenced circles (sorry, guys!), “what will you be adding … Continue reading
Ash Wednesday—or—On Not Mocking Ourselves with Falsehood*
Blessed sister, holy mother, spirit of the fountain, spirit of the garden, Suffer us not to mock ourselves with falsehood Teach us to care and not to care Teach us to sit still Even among these rocks, Our peace in His will And even among these rocks Sister, mother And spirit of the river, spirit … Continue reading
The Humanity of it All
The question: “Why am I (still) Catholic?” The answer: “Because I am a human being.” I did actually leave the Roman Catholic Church for several years. Because there are a host of issues over which my well-formed conscience puts me at odds with some of the more vocal members of the Roman Church’s leadership, I … Continue reading
Making the Road by Walking It: Why I Am (Still) Catholic
“This is awesome,” Hannah[1] said as the five of us picked ourselves up off the floor. “I’m sorry—what is awesome exactly?” I responded, willing my knees to cooperate. “This. Talking about being Catholic, together. I go to public school. We don’t do this at public school. And you know, it’s the Bay Area. We don’t … Continue reading
The Weight of my Child’s Gaze
My nine month old* son doesn’t weigh too much. Twenty-one pounds at his last doctor’s appointment, which is well close to triple his birth-weight. I’ve begun to sense a hint of fatigue in my arms after holding him for a while. But then again, I most often lift him at will, hold him close, often … Continue reading
The Call of the Christmas Stable (Part 3 of 3)
Lord, may our eyes always be raised to you, so that when you call, we may respond at once. ~ from the Liturgy of the Hours Keeping night watch over their sheep, the shepherds would see angels fill the heavens, announcing glad tidings. Far from that place, waiting with their eyes fixed on those same heavens, … Continue reading
