Year: 2020

“The Bible is full of references to sheltering. The first one that came to my mind was, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty” (Ps 91:1). Then there is “There will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain” (Is 4:6). One that is frequently used in perilous times is “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in times of trouble” (Ps 46:1).”

“That’s the beauty of the Office–it says for us what we can’t always say for ourselves, and when we say it enough times, it becomes part of us, packing itself away in the same place we learned to say the Lord’s Prayer, or the Gettysburg Address when we were forced to memorize it in the 8th grade.  Prayers like “Guide us waking and guard us sleeping” or The Song of Simeon or the Prayer of St. John Chrysotom become embedded in us in the same way a skin graft takes hold–not “us” originally, but in time, imperceptibly becoming us.”

“Perhaps we can see this time as a precious reminder of our shared vulnerability, and as a reminder to be more gentle with each other. Perhaps we can come to see why making sure everyone has access to sick leave and health care is actually in our collective best interest.”

“These images of Mary as priest, as a leader in the church, as an apostle, and as a bold and strong woman who was at the crucifixion despite the risk it posed to her own life, stand in stark contrast to the image that is often associated with Mary as meek and mild.”

“Above the deer I find the words from Psalm 25, “In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.” The beautiful scroll of the letters and the words draw me in as we color together.”

“Paul goes back and forth between teaching them to be courageous sons and daughters of Christ and to be polite, keeping a low profile, and not offending.”