I saw the film, “Jimmy’s Hall” yesterday. Among other lessons conveyed, it seems to me, is the one that reminds us that oftentimes the most brutal wars are the local and neighborhood ones. If you haven’t seen the film it is based in the very turbulent, of course, Irish history of the 1930s. The worldwide…
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Tradition with a capital T and Values with practical value (c) by Rev. Jim Ryan, jimryan6885@gmail.com On the way to making his main point in today’s Gospel passage, Jesus speaks of the traditions that the Jews followed in the performance of rituals that were associated with a belief in correctness and purity in applying Faith.…
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“Lived Experience, Authentic Love” © by Rev. Jim Ryan, jimryan6885@gmail.com Lived experience is one of the gifts one gives to one’s beloved in marriage. Such mutually shared gifts result in the couple’s own shared lived experience. First, what is lived is each individual’s own experience of growing in the knowledge and love of self and…
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This morning we had a Eucharist Prayer for and with victims of sexual abuse by priests and others who horrifically used (use) their power over innocent victims. What a sharing we had – an open, deeply emotional and spiritual, offering to each other. Discussing this horror within worship, I believe, acknowledges its place in the…
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PARTS I & II are presentations by Mary and Joe Burke who, with Jim Ewens, attended recently attended the gathering of Intentional Eucharist Communities in Minneapolis. Jim also shared his thoughts with the community. After you read what Mary & Joe have passed along to us, please join in the discussion. PART I. Mary Burke’s…
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Since a number of us are reading “Whistle” I thought posting this invitation to comment would be a good start for our discussion. In less than a week I read the book. My thoughts and reactions have really gone through the ringer – once again – as Robert Kaiser exposes the cruelty to innocent victims…
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Rebellious Hearts for God© by Rev. Jim Ryan, jimryan6885@gmail.com “Mere mortal, I am sending you to a rebellious people.” Ezekiel 2:3 The Prophet Ezekiel hears God’s call to preach – not to some general, nondescript population. He is to preach to the rebellious ones, those whose hearts are attached to godless things. These hearts…
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Conversation of a Community at Prayer by Jim Ryan, jimryan6885@gmail.com What a week! We had an open discussion during shared homily time today because the presider, yours truly, was more interested in the thoughts, reactions, and prayerful reflections of our gathered community than selecting a particularly focused starting point. The list before us was just…
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The Irish people continue to inspire by their vote for marriage equality. If one were to put the impact of this in the form of a cheer one might shout, Suas Erinn, or “Up Ireland!” Perhaps as the understanding of marriage widens out from the focus on procreation and physicality (in American society today over…
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