Author and theologian Frederick Buechner described the way he saw God as a Shepherd this way… Recalling a memory of a man taking care of sheep, he states, “Some of them he gave names to, and some of them he didn’t, but he knew them equally well either way. If one of them got lost, he didn’t have a moment’s peace till he found it again. If one of them got sick or hurt, he would move heaven and earth to get it well again.” The metaphor helps us to understand why Christ gives Himself the title “Good Shepherd.” He is the One who searches for the lost and calls each by name. Those who hear his voice turn to Him, moving away from those places of worldly overwhelm, fear and lack. For He tells us, “I am the Good Shepherd; I know…
The Wisdom of George Eliot The journey through George Eliot’s life changing novel MiddleMarch – A Study of Provincial Life begins with a look back into the young life of Saint Theresa of Avila. As a child, little Theresa and her younger brother set out from Avila to find martyrdom as a means to restore peace in the suffering country of the Moors. Eliot then quickly takes us into the hidden life of the innumerable quiet souls struggling with hard times not unlike the mystical saint. Thus, the magnificent nineteenth century writer points to the existence of the “many Theresas in our world who found for themselves no epic life; perhaps only a life of mistakes; or a tragic failure with no sacred poet and sank un-wept into oblivion.” Through the lives of the characters living in Middlemarch, Eliot shows us that “it is never too late to be…
Christ tells us that “It is the Spirit who gives life. The words that I speak to you are Spirit, and they are life” (Jam 6:63). God spoke the first words, electing to use them to make himself known to us. And by the Word of Scripture, the beloved can envision all that can be known about God. God also uses his creation as the means to reveal Himself. Every blooming flower and soaring bird speaks to the nature of God’s beauty. Poetry, works of art and the giving of one’s love to another reflect his love, holiness and wonder. The Word of God is like an expectant garden waiting for searching hands to dig into its soil. The gardener sifts for the best place to plant seeds. They are left hidden beneath the soil, watered and given back to God. The expectant garden soon…
In our world today, the catalyst igniting the search for the Spirit of Wisdom is oft-times sparked by unforeseen circumstances that bring us to our knees. As Marianne Williamson guides “We go through challenging situations in order to evolve into people who can hold to our loving center no matter what the world throws us.” The Wisdom Books of Scripture attest that we never face the trials of life alone. God has been kindling humanity with divine Wisdom since before the beginning of time. And in the New Testament, God’s unfailing love for the world is revealed in the coming of Christ. “The Son of God has come and has given mankind understanding, so that we may know Him who is True (Jn 5:20). Hence to truly know God’s truth, we must weave the golden thread that runs through all Wisdom teaching into our daily life…
St. Bernard (1090-1153 A.D.) lived at a time of splintering turmoil within the Church. Monasteries that were once devoted to the “desert way” of life fell victim to worldly temptations. Spiritually, traditional practices in the monastic way were slowly fading away. However, it was Bernard’s “honey tongue” steeped in Scripture that knew how to redirect the heart of society back towards God. At the young age of twenty-four, Bernard was given the seemingly impossible task to establish a new foundation at Langres (1115) as abbot to twelve monks. Living the Christian state of life as consecrated religious calls for the removal of whatever is incompatible with the practice of love of God and neighbor. Hence, Bernard accepted the enormous task to carry out Christ’s mission with a heart of love. Known as the “bitter valley,” the uncultivated Langres was depleted of natural resources and basic…
