“Love is the most durable power in the world. This creative force, so beautifully exemplified in the life of our Christ is the most potent instrument available to mankind’s (sic) quest for peace and security.” -- M. L. King, Jr.
Our 2016 assembly theme: Transformation and Mystery! We get the idea. Our lives will never be the same again. We are in the midst of a transformation from the known to the unknown. In his address to the Canadian Religious Conference in May of this year, theologian Simon Pierre Arnold, wove his thoughts about religious life around a theme that he called the “era of the butterfly,” the title of his latest book.
As I write, our country awaits, in anticipation or trepidation, the national conventions of our two major political parties. As you read, those events may be ended or in process, naming key players for the next months in US politics.
I want to write about Lent! But first let me congratulate the authors of the Winter 2015 issue of Occasional Papers! You inspire and lead us with your reflections that show experience well integrated. Thank you!
For the shortest month on the western calendar, February 2015 invites a fullness that defies its brevity. Whether we consider the international, national, or ecclesial remembrances, February provides opportunities for an examination of heart, conscience, and consciousness.
As the last days of Advent move steadily on toward Christmas, the ancient O Antiphons enter our Evening Prayer expressing our longings and desires. As I reflected on them, I was aware that they could well be prayed in any season.
O Wisdom! Come, teach us the ways of truth. Show those who govern in church and in civil society what is good for the people. Come to Syria, Yemen, West Africa, and to countless unknown places.
