Category: Spirituality

Friends, I recently listened to an engaging episode of the Rethinking God with Tacos podcast: “The Polar Express with Jason Clark.” 🎙️ Listen here. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-god-with-tacos-podcast/id1505604825?i=1000590913172

The conversation reminded me that faith is often like boarding a train into mystery—choosing to trust, even when we don’t see the whole track ahead. Just as The Polar Express invites us to believe in something greater than ourselves, the Gospel invites us to believe in Emmanuel, “God with us,” who comes near at Christmas.

Key reflections:

• Faith as a journey: stepping into trust when certainty isn’t possible.
• Community as fellowship: we don’t ride alone; we’re invited into communion.
• Wonder as worship: childlike awe opens our hearts to God’s presence.

This Advent and Christmas season, may we all rediscover the joy of wonder, the courage of faith, and the gift of traveling together toward Christ.

On this day in Christian History, Ivan the Terrible, Czar of Russia, murdered Philip of Moscow, the highest churchman, after Philip spoke out against Ivan’s cruelty and demanded the abolition of the Oprichnina. Angered by Philip’s refusal to bless his plans to terrorize Novgorod, Ivan orchestrated his downfall and imprisonment. Philip was killed on December 23, 1569, with accounts differing on whether he was strangled or burned. ⼠

You’re invited to a special presentation by Matt Pandel, President of Global Grace Seminary: “A Christmas Carol Through the Lens of Grace”

🎥 Watch here: https://youtu.be/C6Q78DxStc8?si=5Tljz3dAYYhBO4U0

Matt will explore Dickens’ classic tale, uncovering how themes of redemption and grace shine through Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey. It’s a meaningful reflection for the Advent season and a beautiful way to prepare our hearts for Christmas.

Join us and be inspired by this timeless story told through the lens of grace. 💕✌️🙏

This weeks biblical lesson inspired by Michael Morrell’s conversation on “From Deconstruction to Contemplative Composting” in the Rethinking God with Tacos podcast: it invites us to see faith not as something to be discarded when it breaks down, but as something that can be composted—transformed into fertile soil for deeper growth in Christ.

1. Breaking Down Is Not the End

• Deconstruction: Many believers experience seasons where old certainties collapse. This can feel like loss, but Scripture reminds us that God works even in dismantling. “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24).
• Faith traditions, doctrines, or practices that no longer sustain us can be broken down, not to destroy, but to prepare for renewal.

2. Composting as Transformation

• Contemplative composting: Michael Morrell uses the metaphor of composting—taking what seems dead and letting it become nourishment for new life.
• In biblical terms, this echoes Paul’s teaching: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
• What feels like waste or failure can, through prayer and contemplation, become the very soil where love and wisdom grow.

3. Consent and Community in Faith

• Consent in spirituality: The podcast emphasizes that authentic faith requires freedom, not coercion. Jesus himself invited rather than forced: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
• Community and curiosity: Composting is not done alone. The early church thrived in community, “devoted to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship” (Acts 2:42). Questions and curiosity are not threats but gifts that deepen discipleship.

4. Mysticism and the Power of Love

• Mysticism: Morrell highlights the contemplative tradition—silence, prayer, and mystical union with God.
• Scripture affirms this: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
• Transformative love: Love is the ultimate fruit of composted faith. “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:14).

Practical Takeaways

• Allow old forms of faith to break down without fear—they can become the soil for new growth.
• Practice contemplative prayer as a way of composting doubts and struggles into wisdom.
• Stay rooted in community, where curiosity and questions are welcomed.
• Keep love central, for it is the fruit God desires from every season of transformation.

This lesson reframes deconstruction not as a crisis but as a sacred process of renewal. Just as compost transforms decay into life, so God transforms our brokenness into deeper communion with Him. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-god-with-tacos-podcast/id1505604825?i=1000741606281

May God the Father bless us; may Christ take care of us; the Holy Ghost enlighten us all the days of our life.

The Lord, be our defender and keeper of body and soul, both now and forever, to the ages of ages. Saint Aethelwold (d. 984) Bishop of Winchester and monastic reformer

Lord Jesus, you were born of the Virgin Mary, the daughter of Saints Joachim and Anne.

Look with love on grandparents the world over. Protect them! They are source of enrichment for families, for the church and of all society.

Support them! As they grow older, may they continue to be for the family, strong pillars of gospel faith, Guardian of Noble domestic ideals, living, treasuries of sound religious traditions.

Make them teachers of wisdom and courage, that they may pass on to future generation the fruit of their mature human and spiritual experience.

Lord Jesus, help families and society to value the presence and roles of grandparents. May they never be ignored or excluded, but always encounter respect and love.

Help them to live serenely and to feel welcomed in all the years of life which you give them.

Mary, Mother of all living, keep grandparents constantly in your care, accompany them on their earthly pilgrimage, and by your prayers, Grant at all families, may one day be reunited in our heavenly homeland, where you await all humanity with the great embrace to live with that end. Amen. Pope Benedict. XVI (1927-)

The Lord created you just the way you are, inside and outside. He formed and shaped you when you were still in your mother’s womb. He designed you with a special purpose. You are wonderful just the way you are. And never forget. God has incredible plans for your life. Plans for success, not failure…plans to fill you with hope and excitement for your future. Paraphrase from Psalm 139:13-14 and Jeremiah 29:11

Almighty God, you know what it is like to be both Mother and Father to us all.

We ask you, the source and sustainer of all life, to bless these parents in the role you have set before them.

Get their lips with the wisdom to speak the truth so it can be heard.

Gift their ears with sensitivity as they listen to the needs of their children.

Gift their souls with the faith radiating your ultimate presence and their life.

Gift their minds with patience and understanding to handle the changing needs and demands place before them each day.

Guide our hearts as they seek out and reconcile the areas of conflict and pain that may exist.

And through all these, may your abundant blessings continue to affirm and support all they do as parents.

We asked this blessing upon each of them, in the name of the father, the son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. – A prayer for world youth day.

Almighty God,

We ask your blessings upon our young people, gathered here. You have gifted each one of them in a special and unique way. May they come to know, and share the wonder, and all that lives within them as they grow and wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of you.

Guide and sustain them as they discern your invitation to your discipleship.

Bless their openness and enthusiasm and allow their questions to enliven and challenge us as a community of believers gathered to do your will.

Strengthen and support the many good works they do. Challenge and provoke them along their journey of faith so they may help lead church into the possibilities of tomorrow.

In all these things, we ask your blessings upon them this day, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen. – A Prayer for World Youth Day