You guys know how Moses makes his coffee? ...He-brews it...
Now that you've gotten your caffeine jolt, here's this week's links.
"New Year’s Resolution failed? Follow Pope Francis’ lead and try ‘wasting time’ instead." by Haley (Carrots) Stewart via America Magazine
 |
| Sorry, Marie, actually NOT talking about you. |
Full disclosure: I read Haley's book recently and loved it, and I generally am a softy for insightful Catholic moms, especially when they share little bits of their family on social media. Anywho, for those who may not want a book-length dive into intentional simplicity, this start-of-the-year reflection is a briefer celebration of that simplicity in light of Pope Francis' advice. Haley celebrates "wasting time" as a way to worry less about productivity and efficiency and instead invite greater presence and wider space for love. One great nugget: maybe, more often than we'd like to admit, interruptions are actually more important scheduled things.
"Democrats Overplay their Hand on Abortion" by Alexandra DeSanctis via The Atlantic (primarily, she writes for National Review)
In light of some troubling movements in New York and Virginia, this article takes a pretty deliberate, measured approach to walking through the heaviness of these lurches in the policies on abortion. While this author is an overt and open pro-life person, she writes the article in a restrained, face-value sort of way. Her focus is not advocacy or persuasion but rather an honest assessment of how the Democrats are embracing extreme policies on abortion to try to firm up the ground in case the courts start to push back more on liberal abortion laws, but in doing so, are giving away the game on what they stand for and seek to protect.
"Trump: Another unconvincing stab at statesmanship" by Michael Sean Winters via National Catholic Reporter
I don't read NCR much, but this opinion summary of Trump's State of the Union Address was pretty solid. The speech didn't touch much on themes especially sensitive to religious listeners, but Winters surveys the reaction to the speech and comments, which included one particularly intriguing and off-putting observation. Describing Trump's struggle with scripted speeches versus his comfort with ad-libbing, one writer commented, "He's adept at pressing their emotional buttons, and even if he is not very religious himself, there is something evangelical about his style. He excites hope that crushing victories are coming, over strange and shadowy forces of evil. He moves around, filling the physical space, improvising. He promises anything that comes into his head..." More fuel to the scary fire that is President Trump.
"The Joy of Having Loud and Messy Kids at Mass" by Brian Doyle via America Magazine (H/T to Josh Noem for the link)
This one was written a few years back, but a lot of people have been writing and sharing links this week about the importance and beauty of children at Mass. I especially liked this piece, a sparse and raw accounting of experiencing liturgy in the midst of children. In addition to the good theology and catechesis relating to children at the Mass being done elsewhere, I thought it was rather welcome to just read a touching narrative and a brief reflection from the perspective of a faithful massgoer.
"Ways to Get Students Involved in School Liturgies" by Katie Diltz via the McGrath Institute for Church Life Blog (University of Notre Dame)
This one may be a bit niche-y for some of you, as it's certainly geared toward those of us who minister to young people. However, it might also awaken some nostalgia in your soul as you remember the dear old days of your elementary school liturgies. Mobilizing young people in liturgical ministries is wonderfully easy and potentially transformative. The variety of roles possible for various young people and their various gifts can help connect them to the beauty of the liturgy and the chance to share their gifts with others in prayer and worship. This is a nice little primer to help toward that end.
"The Joy of Having Loud and Messy Kids at Mass" by Brian Doyle via America Magazine (H/T to Josh Noem for the link)
This one was written a few years back, but a lot of people have been writing and sharing links this week about the importance and beauty of children at Mass. I especially liked this piece, a sparse and raw accounting of experiencing liturgy in the midst of children. In addition to the good theology and catechesis relating to children at the Mass being done elsewhere, I thought it was rather welcome to just read a touching narrative and a brief reflection from the perspective of a faithful massgoer.
"Ways to Get Students Involved in School Liturgies" by Katie Diltz via the McGrath Institute for Church Life Blog (University of Notre Dame)
 |
| Me, when the kid who just practiced the First Reading five minutes ago reaches the ambo and promptly begins confidently proclaiming the Gospel instead. |
This one may be a bit niche-y for some of you, as it's certainly geared toward those of us who minister to young people. However, it might also awaken some nostalgia in your soul as you remember the dear old days of your elementary school liturgies. Mobilizing young people in liturgical ministries is wonderfully easy and potentially transformative. The variety of roles possible for various young people and their various gifts can help connect them to the beauty of the liturgy and the chance to share their gifts with others in prayer and worship. This is a nice little primer to help toward that end.
No comments:
Post a Comment