The Lie of Lack
The women on both sides of my family loved to play cards. My grandmother and my aunt introduced me to all sorts of fun games. Most of them I’ve forgotten, but I do remember that my favorite was War, and…
Who is in the Manger?
‘Twas a few days before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, except me. Rising early, I slipped downstairs to steal some time in solitude and silence before the others awoke and my attention and energy…
Thomas Didn’t Get It
“How is this night different from all other nights?” The youngest child in a Jewish family asks this question on the night of Passover. We could ask a similar question on Divine Mercy Sunday—why is this feast any different? We’ve…
The Charcoal Fire
Among my favorite smells of spring-going-on-summer is a charcoal fire. The scent summons me back to childhood summers when, draped in damp towels after swimming, we would gather after sunset around a charcoal fire at the town park. I loved…
Light-Bearing Angel
Agatha Christie is best known as a writer of mysteries, particularly those featuring detectives Hercules Poirot and Miss Marple. She has been called the Queen of Crime, and was even awarded the more official title of Dame of the British…
Awkward: A Holy Thursday Reflection
This year, our Holy Thursday liturgy will be missing a familiar component—the Washing of the Feet. A small if unholy part of me is somewhat relieved. The liturgy is long enough. Surely we’ve sanitized sufficiently this year! And quite frankly,…
Blessed Is She Who Believed
As a child I loved Holy Saturday. It was a day of Much Anticipation. The more sad and somber liturgies were completed, as was the long Lent and the fasting of Good Friday. Night would bring the wonderful Easter Vigil.…
Patron for the Pandemic
About six years ago I was sitting on the beach with my friend Monica when I had a startling idea. “Why is there no 24-hour adoration chapel in Manhattan?” Surely a city which hosts eight million people on any given…
The Egg and the Rock
Today’s Gospel seems to tell a Tale of Two Peters. Jesus asks His disciples the pivotal question: “Who do you say that I am?” It is Peter who proclaims in reply: “You are the Christ!” Peter is able to see…
What Kind of God
Recently it seemed that a wish was about to come true. It was the wish that I made the last three years while blowing out birthday candles. The wish that I had been working tirelessly for and praying for on…
