March 3/First Tuesday of Lent Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name. ~ Ps 34.4 A friendly “hello” to visitors after Mass. A weekly church supper that draws seniors, neighbors, and students from the nearby college campus. A colorful banner hoisted on the church portico welcoming visitors to the religious services within. These are but a…
Song 5: Addressing the Lord
March 2/First Monday of Lent Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart find favor before you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. ~ Ps 19.15 What does it mean for “the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart” to “find favor” before God? To put it another way, what is the…
Song 4: User Manual
February 29/Saturday after Ash Wednesday Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you; save your servant who trusts in you.Be gracious to me, O LORD, for to you do I cry all day long.Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I…
Song 3: Me Do It!
February 28/Friday after Ash Wednesday Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. ~ Ps 51.3-4 Pulling the orange and yellow polka-dotted shirt and the red and blue and pink plaid shorts out of the drawer, the…
Song 2: It’s the Journey
February 27/Thursday after Ash Wednesday Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked,Nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent;But delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on his law day and night. ~ Ps 1.1-2 “Are we there yet?” Before the omnipresence of those personal screens that…
Song 1: Owning It
February 26/Ash Wednesday For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always: Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.” ~ Ps 51.5-6 Ever since that fateful evening in the garden of Eden when Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent, we humans have shown ourselves incredibly adept at pointing…
Songs for Lent 2020: Coming Soon
Dear Friends,Beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 26, I will again be offering Songs for Lent, brief reflections on the psalm verse or verses in the daily lectionary. The reflections will arrive in your inbox every morning except for Sundays, which are feast days and not technically part of Lent. They will end on April 11, Holy Saturday. As per usual,…
Keeping Advent 24: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
December 24/Christmas Eve You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way. ~ Luke 1.76 Our Advent preparations end with a poem of praise. Curiously, though, the praise is directed not to the Christ whose birth we celebrate tomorrow, but to Zechariah’s child, John the Baptist,…
Keeping Advent 23: What’s in a Name?
December 23/Fourth Monday of Advent He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. ~ Luke 1.63 Many cultures around the world have specific customs and expectations about the naming of children. A new baby is named after a parent or grandparent; she is christened with a saint’s name, he is called after a…
Keeping Advent 22: What to Wear
December 22/Fourth Sunday of Advent Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD? or who may stand in his holy place? One whose hands are clean, whose heart is pure, who does not lift up his soul to what is empty. ~ Ps 24.3-4 In my small and historic parish church, people tend to dress up for Mass. Men don…