“When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your...
Lincoln
posted by DJL
Abraham Lincoln’s birthday was this past Wednesday, February 12, though we celebrate it this coming Monday, Presidents Day. I like the following poem by David Shumate because it gets at one of the core questions of the man: could he be real? We know stories of Washington, like the famous...
Matthew 6:1-8
posted by DJL
“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others....
Who Was St. Valentine?
posted by DJL
With a little luck, I’ll get home later today after four wonderful but crazy trips strung together, multiple (okay, too many!) take-offs and landings with a sinus infection, cold and/or inclement weather just about everywhere I travelled, and several delayed and/or cancelled flights. Because of the aforementioned, I haven’t had as much time as I’d like to work on the blog over the last two weeks, but I did come across this charming video briefly illustrating the history of St. Valentine, for whom this day is named. Truth be told, almost nothing is known for certain about Valentine, but given that history is far more about stories than...
Matthew 5:48
posted by DJL
“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” I have to admit that I have always found this verse, which serves as something of a climax to this section of Jesus’ teaching on the relational ethics of the kingdom, rather intimidating. Be perfect? Come on! As God is perfect?...