Tea Bags
“I do it myself!” On our family vacation over the 4th of July, two-year-old Zippy is declaring her independence. Her independence produces a lot of work, particularly for my brother Joe, who is a good and attentive father. “I do…
Living the Ellipses
“Look up at the sky and count the stars if you can.” God invites Abram to faith in today’s First Reading. We’ve all marveled at the night sky, contemplating its vastness and the twinkling of bodies light-years away. But some…
Mary Mother of the Church
Several years ago, as I sat praying the rosary, I was reflecting on Our Lady’s request that we pray it “for sinners.” Throughout the centuries, saints have spoken of the power of the rosary to change history, to effect profound…
The King of Glory and the Pink Bunny
I have two distinct memories of our second grade Christmas pageant. The first is of the lyrics to The King of Glory which we sang with such joyful exuberance that we were marched through the hallway to the upper grade…
Who’s At the Door?
When my little friends Nicholas (then 8) and Theresa (6) came to spend a day in New York City, the first stop was my apartment. As we ascended the many stairs to my sixth-floor walk-up, Nicholas exclaimed excitedly, “Cie-Cie you…
The Word That Heals
One day a mother overheard her five-year-old playing “hospital.” Her patient was stretched out on the couch as the little girl touched various parts of her body—head, stomach, throat—pronouncing each time “Body of Christ”, “Body of Christ,” “Body of Christ.”…
Again…
“Again!” little Zippy claps with delight. “Again! Again!” she pleads. I wonder just how many more “agains” I can take. The Five Little Monkeys have fallen off the bed enough times to warrant a CPS intervention. Baby Shark could probably…
And Jesus Said “Mary!”
We place in each small hand a tiny mustard seed. One child sits contemplating in awe how this tiny seed (much smaller even than those we find here in the U.S. supermarkets) will grow into “the largest of shrubs.” Some…
The Scorpion & the Supper
You have probably heard the cautionary tale about the boy and the scorpion. They are at a raging river. The scorpion pleads for help, and the boy full of compassion carries him across in his bosom, only to be stung…
Am I the Enemy?
“Healing is like an onion—there are many layers to it,” said the priest kindly. “God is moving foothills and mountains in your life—but you are looking for a volcano.” His words gave me a measure of peace, but still I…
