“bots,” “preppers,” and breaking the cycle Thoughts on the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 12, 2017 by Rev. Jim Ryan, jimryan6885@gmail.com Fatalism creeps all ‘round us these days. And by fatalism I’m using the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition that says it means “the belief or attitude that events are fixed in advance and humans are…
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“Little Stories and Big Saints” Thoughts on All Saints/All Souls, November 5, 2017 by Rev. Jim Ryan, jimryan6885@gmail.com “Who we are now…. and who we will later become….” Adaptation of 1 John 3:3 Now, there’s an indicator of change, the kind of change, for our purposes, that speaks of conversion. And by conversion I don’t…
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“Where have all the bishops gone?” OR “The people do Social Teaching now!” Thoughts on 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time October 29, 2017 by Rev. Jim Ryan, jimryan6885@gmail.com When last we left St. Paul – as in, last Sunday’s second reading from the 1st Letter to the Thessalonians – he reminded them that he led…
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“Virtue in Troubled Times” Thoughts on 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time October 22, 2017 by Rev. Jim Ryan, jimryan6885@gmail.com Maybe you share with me the disgust I am experiencing at a time when the occupant of the Office of President of the United States acts worse than the 5 year old child who has been…
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“Economic Justice not Mercy OR the Fairness of a Living Wage” Thoughts on 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time September 24, 2017 by Rev. Jim Ryan, jimryan6885@gmail.com When one believes in and holds to a Social Teaching then by definition one believes in the priority of the Good. This is to say that the Social Teaching…
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“Where are the miracles today?” Thoughts on 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time August 13, 2017 by Rev. Jim Ryan, jimryan6885@gmail.com Today’s Gospel story of Jesus inviting Peter to come to him on the water is a familiar one (Matthew 14:22-33). Peter responds by stepping out of the boat and walking toward Jesus. He stays upright…
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“We are Eyewitnesses to Sovereign Majesty.” Thoughts on Transfiguration, August 6, 2017 by Rev. Jim Ryan, jimryan6885@gmail.co “For we are eyewitnesses of his sovereign majesty.” (2Peter 1:17) Now that the Transfiguration vision is done and Resurrection is experienced Peter has a clear appreciation for sovereign majesty. It has nothing to do with triumphalism, power, or…
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“When Ground is not ground and Hope is not hope.” Thoughts on 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time. July 16, 2017 by Rev. Jim Ryan, jimryan6885@gmail.com On this midsummer Sunday we have a philosopher’s delight. Instead of completing the Crossword Puzzle on a beach plying appropriate amounts of sunscreen, we have word play nonetheless. Here’s why.…
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How, then, are we not a cult? thoughts on Independence Weekend, July 2, 2017 by Rev. Jim Ryan, jimryan6885@gmail.com We celebrate, on this 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, our Independence Holiday running all the way to July 4th. This time of focus acknowledges that freedom is a gift to share and a challenge to sustain.…
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Message This! thoughts on Trinity Sunday, 2017 by Rev. Jim Ryan, jimryan6885@gmail.com Believe it or not, the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity – this celebration of One in Three, Three in One – has a coherent background to it. A background, when seen through philosopher’s eyes, that resonates with ancient questions. And the really big…
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