Hebrews Is On Deck

It hasn't been all that long since I realized that the "ordered-ness" or ordinary time extends to the second readings as well. For the last five weeks, we've been reading through the letter of James. The next letter on deck is Hebrews.

For those of you who were glad to finish James because it's hard to hear, don't expect Hebrews to be any easier. Hebrews is more theological (I can say this because I just finished reading it in one sitting), but it is no less difficult! We go from hard to hear to hard to understand!

I'd suggest - if you can - that you take some time and read it all - we only read excerpts in mass, and getting the context is good. We spend the next seven weeks in Hebrews, and that takes us through the end of the liturgical year. (We get interrupted by All Saint's Day, which falls on a Sunday this year!)

{7 QT 20} - 7 Ways to Ask About a Pregnant Lady's Health (Without Sounding Like You Think She Might be Dying)

Original Image from Pixabay.

Some weeks ago, I wrote a post on why I didn't like being asked how I was feeling during my first pregnancy. The pattern seems to have held pretty consistently for this one. The first few times I got asked how I was feeling were like hearing a china cabinet go crashing to the floor.

I tried to be nice, and I succeeded. No, really I did! However, I think business cards with a link to that post might be in order.

Still, I feel like I need to give those people who ask because they mean well some options. Nobody asks with the intention of guaranteeing that I answer the same question fifteen times in the space of three hours, but the end result is the same. At the end of the morning, I've answered the same question fifteen times.



So, without further ado, here are seven ways to ask about the health of an expectant mother, without sounding like you think she might be dying!

To What Extent are We "Unjustly Rich"?

26th Sunday of Ordinary Time

This Sunday, the second reading will be from James 5:1-6.

These are hard words to hear, if you’re the sort of person who has the resources to read this blog, right? In fact, internationally speaking, if you have internet access, you are in the top 3-5%. So you and me - we’re unquestionably “rich”.

One Year Ago...

One year ago, yesterday, a faithful servant went to meet our Master.

This is Wayne King. He was the pastor at Daniel’s small Presbyterian church for ten years, and a very good friend of ours. And before that, he and his wife, Julie, spent 20 years doing Bible translation work in Malaysia, for a language that - I understand - previously didn’t have a written form.

Sometimes the Villain Gets One Right

25th Sunday of Ordinary Time

This Sunday, the second reading will be from James 3:16-4:3. I suggest reading the other readings as well, for context. It’s lectionary # 134, if you’re reading from a hard copy.

There is a Native American Fable - or maybe an adage - about a boy who talks to his grandfather about two dogs fighting inside of him. One is a good dog, who represents virtues, and the other is an evil dog, who represents vices. The boy asks his grandfather which dog will win, to which the old man replied, “the one you feed.”

What I've Been Doing With My Rosaries Lately

If you’ve been reading for a while, you might be aware that the Rosary isn’t my favorite devotion. (Be Warned: That was before I learned about the wonders of Pixabay and public domain images.) At the same time, I have a LOT of rosaries, and I feel guilty not using any of them.

My husband and I recently took up the practice of couple prayer, and I noticed something in the process of listening to myself pray out loud.

{7 QT 19} - I was in English Class

I'm doing my quick takes this week on the day that we were getting news about the 9/11 attacks, here in Baton Rouge. Just - disclosure - in case you'd rather not read on.

--- 1 ---

I realize that Louisiana is pretty far removed from New York City, but you never do quite forget exactly where you were and what you were doing when you first find out about truly, truly significant cultural events.

The Trouble with Works

24th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Original image from Pixabay.

This Sunday, the second reading will be from James 2:14-18 (the link goes to a bit more). I’d strongly encourage you to read the other readings as well. It’s lectionary #131, if you’re reading from a hard copy.

I don’t think there is another issue that is as contentious between Catholics and most Protestants as that of the role of works in salvation.

On the one hand, Protestants have one strong point in their favor. We cannot earn our Salvation. Not by doing good works, not by study, not by any means. And any Catholic who is worth their salt will tell you the same thing.

If We Do Show Partiality

23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Original Image from Pixabay.

This Sunday, the second reading will be from James 2:1-5. Be sure to read the other readings, for better context. It’s Lectionary # 128, if you’re reading from a hard copy.

Partiality is a hard thing to avoid. We all have preferences. We are partial to people who have similar interests and opinions to our own, and we naturally prefer to be around them, and we tend to take their parts in arguments.

Is this necessarily the kind of partiality that James is calling problematic?