Today is the solemnity of Assumption of nbsp the Blessed Virgin Mary You can find the readings for today here and a video reflection at the USCCB website here Richard Leonard S J s thoughts on the Feast of the Assumption from 2008 on the America Good Word site nbsp are well-worth considering

Mike Ovey Principal of Oak Hill College in England wrote on the rioting in London and elsewhere in England a few days ago the piece itself does not bear a date nbsp Ovey warns against treating the rioters as the ldquo other rdquo which he accuses both liberals and conservatives on the polit

What happens when God truly does something new in our midst The readings nbsp for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time give us a glimpse of how the extraordinary manifests itself in day to day life and events though we might not think it extraordinary any longer We have lost the sense of wonder

Maps have border lines The earth itself does not Human life demands drawing boundaries but God rsquo s life knows none While we live we constantly claim what we consider to be our own and we define ourselves both by who we are mdash and who we are not If religion were entirely divinely w

On occasion I offer reviews of books which I believe have some popular appeal for a wider audience These reviews tend to be lengthier and more academic than regular posts Sarah Ruden rsquo s book Paul Among the People The Apostle Reinterpreted and Reimagined in His Own Time New York Image Boo

God speaks in many ways but if you want to hear him you need to be prepared to listen nbsp In 1 Kings 19 12 following wind earthquake and fire ndash which is the name of a 70s band I believe ndash Elijah hears a ldquo sound of sheer silence rdquo NRSV or ldquo a tiny whispering sound