Daily Theology
Spirituality
The Pope and the Power of Humility
Few events have defined Pope Francis’s young papacy as much as his monumental decision to break from tradition in the Holy Thursday ritual of washing the feet. The moving witness of him bending over and cleaning the feet of twelve marginalized poor (non-Italian) young men and women may be remembered as an important moment in … Continue reading
Dependency and Reality
Yesterday Pope Francis sent out a tweet suggesting a correlation between self-centeredness and the quest for profit (a tweet that gained him 81,000 followers in one hour, by the way). It read: “My thoughts turn to all who are unemployed, often as a result of a self-centered mindset bent on profit at any cost.” The … Continue reading
A Prayerful Church for the Poor: Pope Francis on Encountering Christ in Prayer and Solidarity
By Michael Rubbelke Like many, I’ve been excited about Pope Francis from the moment he stepped out onto the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square. Besides his off-the-cuff homilies, audiences, and Tweets, I’ve been delighted with the gestures which indicate his commitment to poverty and encountering others: paying his own hotel bill, celebrating the Holy Thursday … Continue reading
Embracing Our Human Finitude During Lent: The Spiritual Witness of Pope Benedict’s Resignation
It has been a busy week for Catholic Christians. Monday we were rocked by the Pope’s resignation and today, Ash Wednesday, we join fellow Christians around the world in celebrating the Season of Lent. Lent is often portrayed as the time Christians “give up something” like chocolate, alcohol or, in this day and age, social … Continue reading
Communion at the END of the World
“The idea of the end that can be known and that it is a fate that is shared by all is oddly appealing in an individualistic culture where many people feel alone and where control is understood as defining one’s dignity.” Recently, there has been a lot of talk about the end of the world. … Continue reading
Getting God’s Attention
“The best way to get Jesus’ attention is by talking to Mary.” On this Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, I find myself wondering how many have heard this line or something like it. Often it’s a tagline for a joke, but as Homer Simpson would say, “It’s funny because it’s true.” … 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
Dating and Dating God
When I first offered to review Dan Horan’s Dating God a couple months back, in my mind I had anticipated doing a more or less traditional book review: give an overview of the basic goal of the book, offer some highlights and critiques, and suggest what audience I felt would appreciate it most. And I … 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
In Silence, Humbly Beholding the Christ
It starts in a room of silence. A room where disciples are gathered together in fear, in worry and in prayer. An Inner Room where disciples behold the Christ in secret (Matthew 6:6). It is fitting – this silence of the disciples – listening to and beholding this wounded Christ. Silence mirroring the very heart … Continue reading
