everyday spirituality Archives - Page 8 of 11

Hypocrites: Always room for one more!

Posted on May 2, 2014August 22, 2017 by Michael Rose

Is the Church full of hypocrites? I hear it often. It seems like an auto-response for many when describing the Church; “the Church is full of hypocrites.” I usually end up smiling as I remember an old friend when faced with the same response. He would smile and warmly reply “Yes! And there is always…

The Welcoming Prayer

Posted on April 4, 2014October 29, 2018 by Michael Rose

Have you ever felt like you are being ambushed by stress, fear, worry, and anxiety? Sometimes the unpleasant feelings can be so overwhelming, making it very difficult to get a proper perspective, focus on the tasks at hand and make good decisions. Here is a useful tool for dealing with these feelings. The Welcoming Prayer…

Being Fully Alive & The Glory of God

Posted on March 20, 2014January 26, 2018 by Michael Rose

“Gloria Dei vivens homo” proclaimed St. Irenaeus, the second century Bishop of Lyons. It translates generously to “the glory of God is men and women who are truly alive.” He, with great enthusiasm, declares that God is glorified by people like you and me who are fully alive human beings – fully enlivened by divine love…

Bruised and Broken? God has a Plan for You!

Posted on January 29, 2014July 1, 2017 by Michael Rose

Thornton Wilder’s play, “The Angel that Troubled the Waters” is based on the story found in John 5:1- 5 with an interesting twist. The play tells the story of a doctor who visits the pool of Bethesda in hopes that he could be the first in the water when the angel appears and troubles the…

The Least of These?

Posted on December 4, 2013March 31, 2018 by Michael Rose

Jesus tells a story in Matthews 25 of a King who calls a meeting of his subjects. He said to the group to the right of him, “I want to sincerely thank and commend you. For I was sick, and you cared for me. I was hungry and thirsty, and you fed me and gave…

Speaking the Truth in Love

Posted on December 4, 2013July 11, 2017 by Michael Rose

There is a comedian who has a bit where he describes some of the idiosyncrasies of living in the Southern United States. He laughs as he describes how people would say things like “That baby sure is ugly! Bless his little heart” or “Betsy sure looks fat in that dress. Bless her heart!” He jokes…

Oh Father – Our Right of Prayer?

Posted on November 19, 2013August 25, 2020 by Michael Rose

There was a bit of controversy in our small country town. One of the public elementary school’s staff and students have been starting each school day by reciting the Lord’s Prayer – until the school administration received a letter from a mom describing herself as agnostic, expressing concern that on two separate occasions, her sons returned home after…

Generous God :: Becoming Love

Posted on October 7, 2013July 18, 2023 by Michael Rose

One of the biggest challenges for folks who see God through the eyes of shame is the inability to see that God is truly for us. “Yes, I know God loves me BUT…” “Yes, it is all grace by faith in Jesus BUT…” This can be a real handicap as the One who can truly…

Outcast outside of Us Calls forth the Outcast within Us

Posted on October 3, 2013May 10, 2022 by Michael Rose

Dean Brackley, SJ was an American Jesuit who started his career in education, a community organizer working for social justice in El Salvador. Brackley volunteered to go to the University of Central America in 1989, shortly after the murder of six Jesuits, their housekeeper and her daughter. In addition to his academic responsibilities, he also did pastoral work in a poor…

Pointing to the Moon

Posted on September 27, 2013January 26, 2018 by Michael Rose

There is an old story about a fella illustrating the difference between spirituality and religion. He used the picture of a hand pointing to the moon. He said spirituality is the pointing to the moon where religion is more concerned with the hand. How is the hand pointing? What finger is being used? What color is the…