Spirituality

By Fr. Glenn Jones

Certainly we’ve come to one of the most emotional weeks for a great many Americans (and likely many others around the world due to the financial and political position of the U.S.) with our national elections. For some there will be rejoicing; for others, wailing and gnashing of teeth. Certainly we Christians pray that those elected be given wisdom and grace to govern in ways pleasing to God, for that would be the greatest good. But, whoever wins, virtually all of us will be at least joyful at the end of the constant barrage of electioneering … after a bit of gloating from the winning Read More

By Fr. Glenn Jones:

I’ve recently been watching a historical fiction series set in the 1200s about conflicts—internecine and otherwise—of a tribal group in the western Asian region—constant wars and conquests, treachery and intrigue.  Being a regionally-produced series, it’s very interesting to observe the emphasis on various ways local cultural emphases and perceptions differ from our own.  But one thing that strikes starkly is the constant theme of revenge—every insult, backstab or perceived slight eliciting a nefarious plot to “get even”… often involving the “if he brings a knife, Read More

By Fr. Glenn Jones

Likely you’ve noticed that there sure is a lot of surrendering these days … and so unnecessarily (not to mention insincerely), too. Even the comics often ridicule the tendency. One makes an innocent comment on social media or in a speech or even simply in daily conversation, and can be immediately excoriated across the chasm of electronic insulation. Before you know it, the initial commentator is backpedaling as fast as their little fingers can type, almost to apologize for existing.

Our human social makeup tends to make most people want to “get along” for the good of the community; Read More

By Fr. Glenn Jones:

Often noted nowadays is the lack of class or even courtesy in civil(?) discourse—never more evident than during election seasons. Wild accusations abound, and commentators seem to vie in outdoing one another in vulgarity, as if that leads a greater credence to their argument rather than the reverse. But perhaps most evident is the propensity to disregard anyone’s position or argument other than one’s own, refusing to even listen to counterargument. We like to proclaim ourselves as open-minded, but are we really?

Unlike Goldilocks in the children’s bedtime story, many Read More

By Fr. Glenn Jones

This Sunday (October 4) happens to fall on the annual Catholic memorial feast of much-beloved St. Francis of Assisi. Even many non-Catholic Christians and atheists hold St. Francis in esteem, very often for his touted devotion to nature and kindness to animals; likely a majority of the statues and portrayals depict him with birds or other animals about his person. And even today the collective community of religious orders claiming St. Francis as their inspiration is likely the largest in the world. 

Some may ask: “I thought they followed Jesus?!” Well, certainly; Jesus Christ Read More