Makers of Men

    You may have heard that President Trump recently pardoned several prolifers who were arrested and jailed for peacefully praying/protesting at abortion clinics. Kayleigh McEnany of Fox News interviewed three of them: Paulette Harlow (who was accompanied on set by her...
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The Church’s Countercultural Mary

    Women in leadership roles are to some degree immune from public criticism. Often, those who find female leaders lacking tend to restrict their observations to private communication. Afraid of being labeled “sexist,” they pretty much silence their concerns. Sure,...
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When a Monk Dies

    In my last reflection here, I argued against euthanasia and physician assisted suicide—medically available options in an increasing number of countries, and states in the U.S. But as with many other unethical practices, simply making the case for their wrongness is...
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“May I interrupt you?” “Go right ahead.”

  Someone once remarked that life is a series of interruptions. That certainly is the case for the pastor of a parish in the city that never sleeps! Yet this description of day-to-day life really applies to just about everyone. We all have tasks to accomplish each day. We...
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Homily for Epiphany

  At the time of our Lord’s birth, Jews were present in most major cities throughout the known world. This was called the “Diaspora,” which the story of Pentecost refers to in the Book of Acts (2:1-11), where we read that, “Staying in Jerusalem were devout Jews of every...
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God Adopts Little Girls Too

      In the ancient world, baby girls were in effect disposable. Women were necessary to produce the next generation, but they could not inherit, fight in wars, or carry the family name, so girls were not generally seen as worthy of much investment. In parts of ancient...
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Visitation and Power

  On the Sunday before Christmas, many Christians will hear an excerpt from the “Visitation” of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56). The story climbs the heights of pro-life philosophy, so I quote a portion here: Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste...
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A Just Man

    Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame,...
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For Us and For Our Salvation

    A pastor who has been at it for a while knows that the main event every December is the Christmas Eve Service of Worship. In that service, Isaiah 9:2-7 is stirringly read; and Luke 2:1-20, on the birth of Jesus, joyfully declared. Then the Word is preached. And Holy...
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Euthanasia, the Looming Frontier

    The reports from Canada are particularly disturbing. “Medical Assistance in Dying” is the term used there—MAiD it is called—and in the few years since the Canadian supreme court found a fundamental right to demand medical assistance with one’s death, the numbers...
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