On Saying Yes – OFS Ongoing

Chapter One: Background and Introduction

The Gospel of Mark 4:26-29: He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then theContinue reading “Chapter One: Background and Introduction”

On Emulating Mary

As I continue to work my way back into a regular routine of writing for the blog, I went back to reread the posts in the series, On Saying Yes. After reviewing the last couple posts, it seemed to me that the next step was to concentrate my meditation on the verses (1:26-38) in LukeContinue reading “On Emulating Mary”

Exalted: How the Power of the Magnificat Can Transform Us (Book Review)

Sometime last fall I was on a short trip to French Lick, IN, where we have a small house that is due to be renovated as an Air B&B for summer use and winter escape. Most people would not think of southern Indiana as a location for winter escape, but when you live in northernContinue reading “Exalted: How the Power of the Magnificat Can Transform Us (Book Review)”

On Saying Yes: Mary’s Magnificat

In the last post in this series, I noted how I had prepared to write about Mary’s “yes” by going back to the first Chapter of Luke to review the story of the Annunciation. As part of the process, I read the verses on the Annunciation and then expanded my reading to the entire chapterContinue reading “On Saying Yes: Mary’s Magnificat”

Mary and Zechariah: Saying “Yes” from a Position of Spiritual Poverty

I have recently spent considerable time in my prayer life and spiritual reading considering Mary’s “yes.” But in order to begin writing what I expect will be multiple posts on this topic, I decided to go back to the initial source of the story, the Gospel of Luke, Chapter One. The story of the AnnunciationContinue reading “Mary and Zechariah: Saying “Yes” from a Position of Spiritual Poverty”

Mary as “Holy Lady Poverty”

This reflection appears today in a special edition newsletter published by the Our Lady of Indiana region. We normally get together for “Unity Day” in early August for fellowship as an entire region. Because of the pandemic, the physical gathering was cancelled this year. Instead, we asked our scheduled speaker for a reflection on hisContinue reading “Mary as “Holy Lady Poverty””

On Saying Yes, the Introduction

In mid-November 2019, I took a leave of absence from my regular job as a project manager for a large construction company. This came at the end of a grueling two plus year assignment on a single project. During those two years, I lost my 17-year-old son in a car accident and my 42-year-old sisterContinue reading “On Saying Yes, the Introduction”