A Thought for the Week

May 22, 2013

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity [May 26, 2013]

Each year as the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity rolls around in our Catholic liturgical calendar, I sit down before my IMac computer in fear and trembling. What can I say about God? What can I say about the eternal Divine One that will make any difference in the lives of those who by accident may choose to read these words?

The author who once suggested that more heresies are proclaimed from the pulpit of churches on this festival day than on any other day of the year was probably at least partially correct. I have no way of proving that assertion, of course; indeed, it may well be true but for the wrong reasons.

Anyone who assumes that he or she can say anything intelligent and definitive about God is assuming a great risk.

Continue reading "The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity [May 26, 2013]"

Posted by Cindy Lentine at 01:03 PM.

May 13, 2013

Pentecost Sunday [May 19, 2013]

I always begin writing a homily with a prayer for wisdom. I pray specially hard on this splendid solemnity of Pentecost by asking the Holy Spirit to help me avoid heresy. After all, that is basically what we believe about God’s Spirit, namely that God bestows wisdom and courage to do whatever needs to be done in this world when and where it is appropriate. So, here goes!

Without derogating from the uniqueness and importance of the event that occurred on that day in Jerusalem so long ago, let me suggest that it may not be the first time or the last time that it has happened in our world.

Secondly, let me suggest that our planet and our moment in planetary history may not be the only location and time that Spirit has happened. Could it be, for instance, that God’s Spirit entered into the cycle of being at the moment the so-called Big Bang occurred and when all manner of existence first began? Could it be that God’s Spirit continues to “push” into our planetary history and change it for the good whenever and however new forms of life continue to make their way into planetary history?

Continue reading "Pentecost Sunday [May 19, 2013]"

Posted by Cindy Lentine at 11:52 AM.

May 06, 2013

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord [May 12, 2013]

I am not usually a late night person but several times each month I have the privilege of celebrating Mass at Saint Catherine of Alexandria chapel in the graduate school residence complex.

Obviously, these young folks are slightly older than others across campus; hence in my homilies I often presume that they are conversant with the history of the modern church. Occasionally I will hang around after Mass to dine on pizza and Pepsi and converse with them.

Actually, my motive for delaying my bedtime is not the refreshments but rather to try and get some sense of church from them or more specifically to share my sense of church before and after Vatican II.

Continue reading "Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord [May 12, 2013]"

Posted by Cindy Lentine at 03:04 PM.

April 30, 2013

Sixth Sunday of Easter [May 5, 2013]

I am not usually a late night person but several times each month I have the privilege of celebrating Mass at Saint Catherine of Alexandria chapel in the graduate school residence complex.

Obviously, these young folks are slightly older than others across campus; hence in my homilies I often presume that they are conversant with the history of the modern church. Occasionally I will hang around after Mass to dine on pizza and Pepsi and converse with them.

Actually, my motive for delaying my bedtime is not the refreshments but rather to try and get some sense of church from them or more specifically to share my sense of church before and after Vatican II.

Continue reading "Sixth Sunday of Easter [May 5, 2013]"

Posted by Cindy Lentine at 11:43 AM.

April 23, 2013

Fifth Sunday of Easter [April 28, 2013]

I have often thought about what I consider to be one of the most common human characteristics of most ordinary folks, but especially those who claim a certain relationship with Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ. The most common words I can think of are hope or expectation. People have many and varying human characteristics but basically, they are dreamers. Even from a purely a religious point of view most of them seem to be pretty happy people. I imagine they would not be sitting in church pews unless they chose to be there for a reason. From a purely superficial viewpoint, they expect snow for Christmas and pure white lilies for Easter. Except in Alaska, they usually dress well for their major services. Protestants always seem to sing lustfully, Catholics...well not so much, but they do seem a happy lot over all, whether during holidays or at more common times of the year.

And what should appear so strange about all that? Human individuals throughout the world generally seem to possess a sense of hope and that is the point I am making. No matter how dreadful or appalling life becomes, the common phrase one usually hears is: “Okay, that did not work; so, let’s just start from scratch. There is just something deep in the human psyche that never seems to allow defeat to overcome us; life can be better, even in the most dismal circumstances. All that is simply the common sense most hopeful people have of the world around them: it could be better and I can make it better.

Continue reading "Fifth Sunday of Easter [April 28, 2013]"

Posted by Cindy Lentine at 10:02 AM.