Pax Christi South

[The picture of deer kissing speaks of new life, Easter life, spring hope, eternal life now, peace.] Jesus said to his disciples: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. (Jn 14:27) [...]

Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. (Jn 6:37-38) Jesus is speaking in the context of the Bread of Life—I AM [...]

The more I study Merton and contemplative living, the less contemplative I seem to be. I know where I want to be but do not seem to be there. Like the Galileans in John 6, I am searching and seeking. The crowd is pursuing Jesus. At one point, they want to install him as king [...]

Just Another Day? Yawn—it’s another day. This is the day God has made. What will I do today? Rejoice in God always. Again, I say, “Rejoice!” Where will I go today? Go into your room and pray to God in secret. What will I accomplish today? Be still and know that I am God. What [...]

Wes Howard-Brooke’s Becoming Children of God: John’s Gospel and Radical Discipleship, recommended by John Dear, really helps me see the social dimension of John’s Gospel. Chapter 6 which begins today is John’s long chapter on the Eucharist—Jesus is the Bread of Life. John 6:1-15 is the feeding of the 5000. Jesus, condemning the Judeans, has [...]

The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him. (Jn 3:35-36) The writer is telling the members of the Johannine Community that there are consequences for not [...]

The readings from Acts and John 3:16 are all about our discipleship. The four walls of a prison and the threat of death could not contain the Apostles and their zeal for preaching the Good News. The Johannine Community is reminded that God so loved the world. God’s love for the world is so much [...]

Writing for Sojourners, biblical scholar Walter Bruggemann (“From Anxiety and Greed to Milk and Honey,” February 2009) contrasts our culture with the culture of the Kingdom. Our culture is characterized by autonomy (American individualism), anxiety and greed. As Francis of Assisi warned us, “If you have possessions, you will have to have arms to defend [...]

Easter is about seeing—seeing in a new way. The New Testament accounts of the resurrection help us see anew if we read them carefully. If we leave aside any conceptions about a resuscitated body and dwell on Jesus’ spiritual presence to his closest followers and their witness, we will come to see anew. Spiritual presence [...]

Good news. As we were preparing to set out for Galilee, Mary of Magdala came running to us. The tomb was empty. Jesus is risen and lives among the people of God!!!! Share the Good News. Live as Jesus lived. Be compassionate toward all, especially the least among you.