Author: Jim

Mary Magdala Community

Pastor at rest in pursuit of vision

Pastor at rest in pursuit of vision Rev. Jim Ryan, M.Div, Ph.D. On more than a few occasions I have demonstrated to the community that a methodical view of the preaching I do would consist of creating a metaphor in which I hold the Bible in one hand, and in the other the poems of…
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Eucharist: the aesthetic of disinterest in hate and embrace in love

Eucharist: the aesthetic of disinterest in hate and embrace in love. Rev. Jim Ryan, M.Div., Ph.D. Pollsters report that the American public is exhausted and angry.  What, I wonder, is this exhaustion and anger about?  Where has it come from?  Is it that we’ve had enough? Enough of gun violence? of exercising and holding on…
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Dissensus, the “Yes” on my way to dissent.

Dissensus, the “Yes” on my way to dissent. Rev. Jim Ryan, M.Div, Ph.D. I began this calendar year, 2023, with the question of dissent in the church as a subject to explore.  My specific focus would be on the place of disagreement and how it is, or is not, handled in communities of faith, specifically…
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Coming-to-faith via Grace

Coming-to-faith via Grace 2nd Sunday of Easter – April 16, 2023 Rev. Jim Ryan, Ph.D. Thomas’ story (John 20:19-31) is one of coming-to-faith.  Here is a disciple of Jesus, one who would later be given the title, Apostle, who followed and accompanied the Teacher for a good part of Jesus’ ministry.  This is Thomas who…
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Bethany Walk, Passion of Love

Bethany Walk, Passion of Love Rev. Jim Ryan, Ph.D. This Palm Sunday our Gospel was of the entry into Jerusalem.  We will save the reading of the Passion narrative for its proper day and time which is Good Friday.  This allows us to focus on Jesus’ Passion of Love. Today we are doing the Bethany…
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Sometimes One Chews on One’s Words OR “Psalm 27, we hardly knew ye.”

Sometimes One Chews on One’s Words OR “Psalm 27, we hardly knew ye.” Rev. Jim Ryan, Ph.D. Not so long ago I spoke about the Psalms as being difficult to pray due to the militarism, triumphalism, and revenge one finds in them.  And then comes Psalm 27.  It’s sentiment and poetry, as well as its…
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Equality & Synodality – discernment and disagreement in the Spirit

Equality & Synodality – discernment and disagreement in the Spirit Rev. Jim Ryan, Ph.D. I invited the community to interpret St. Paul’s message to the Corinthians (1Cor 2:6-16) applying these questions.  When he uses the term “we” who do you think this refers to?  Is it, for example, the apostles, the disciples from Jerusalem, church…
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The Beatitudes – through the lens of a narrow focus

The Beatitudes – through the lens of a narrow focus Rev. Jim Ryan, Ph.D. Today, I want to make a small point.  I’ll leave it to others and to another day to ponder the larger, more comprehensive, message of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) for spiritual life and living. It’s the first Beatitude that has drawn…
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Agree in What You Say (even if it includes dissent)

Agree in What You Say (even if it includes dissent)© Rev. Jim Ryan, Ph.D. So now’s the time of year to settle in between the seasons of Advent-Christmas-Epiphany and of Lent-Easter-Pentecost; time for us northerners to get through the rest of winter.  This is the time for drawing closer to the fire (figuratively speaking as…
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Emmanuel Mounier, Personalism & the Synodal Path

Rev. Jim Ryan, Ph.D. I have read about Emmanuel Mounier, not very often, but when I have it has been associated with Mounier’s influence on Peter Maurin, co-founder of the Catholic Worker with Dorothy Day.  Maurin shared with Mounier a belief that faith in Jesus is a radical act of the person.  This radicality obliges…
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