Summer is a special time at Mt. Irenaeus. This year the theme “live with gratitude” will be celebrated by each of the presenters. Each Wednesday evening beginning June 27, 2007 and continuing for six Wednesdays until August 1, 2007 those times of special reflection will begin with Mass at 4:45 pm
Social Justice
Living by the sword has its risks
George Bush’s favorite reason for the Iraq War is “fighting them there so we don’t have to fight them here.” I knew that was simplistic and misleading but had nothing to refute that until now. In today’s New York Times there is an article that is quite informative and alarming.
Compassion in your heart
As a soldier you can be compassionate. You can be loving and your gun can be helpful. There are times you may not have to use your gun. It is like that knife that is used to cut vegetables. You can be a bodhisattva as a soldier or the commander of an army. The question … Read more
Memorial Day
The following came in an email from Jim Hein, SFO (Secular Franciscan Order)
The son-in-law of Anne Kramar, SFO, St. Clare Fraternity in Omaha has recently returned home from Iraq. His name is Jim; he is married to Anne’s daughter, Mary Jane. Jim and Mary Jane have three children, the oldest (boy) is graduating from High School this year. Jim was serving his third tour of duty in Iraq. Upon completion of his second tour he was called up for a third tour – it was the time period that the Federal Government put into effect the “stop loss” policy.
Random acts of senseless kindness
Today is the Feast of Pentecost. One of the stories from Fr. Bob’s homily today was taken from a real life event that occurred at Bakersfield College in California. Fr. Bob used the story to illustrate the powerful effect we have when we bless others.
Satyagraha
Satyagraha is a relentless search for truth and a determination to search truth.–Mahatma Gandhi
As I sit here this morning on the edge of the hundred acre wood that borders our property I am surrounded by peace and yet I know that in much of the world there is violence and killing some of it sponsored by my own government. It pains me deeply to know that my countrymen are being hurt, killed and in some cases doing the killing of others. We are all brothers and sisters in this world.
Wisdom to know the difference
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.–Reinhold Neibuhr
Where do I get the wisdom to know the difference? Where does that come from? This has been a tough week for me. I’ve given up on American democracy. It doesn’t exist anymore.
Death of Democracy
I noted in tonight’s paper a headline that proclaimed “Democrats have to sell their new strategy to liberals.” In other words they’ve caved in to the “Decider in Chief.”
Epitaph
Tony Hendra, the author of Father Joe: the Man who Saved My Soul that I mentioned in my three book meme yesterday has a lovely pieced on Huffington Post this morning.
Putting your money where your mouth is..
Believe it or not the White House opposes pay raises for our troops. Yeah, these are the same clowns who equate supporting the President with supporting the troops. The White House has supported tax breaks for the wealthy,