Inspired by Scholastica

Father Jacques Hamel, French priest When ISIS terrorists killed a Catholic priest in France last July, many expected increased violence against Muslims. But President Francois Hollande brought together religious representatives from Christian churches as well as Muslim, Buddhist and Jewish leaders and interfaith services were held to express unity. Instead of the attack inciting a war on religion, it showed a common bond of friendship between the major faiths. In fact, the priest, Rev. Jacques Hamel, was a good friend of the local Muslim leader according to a report in the Christian Science Monitor..  Too much attention has been given to the violence of past religious history and not enough to their peaceful coexistence for centuries, says historian Zachary Karabeli in a book called Peace Be Upon You.  " Each of the faiths teaches its followers to greet friends and strangers with the warm open arms of acceptance," he says. "Peace comes first and last...

Some people find solace in poetry, in words wrenched from the depths  of despair or the heights of ecstasy  symbolic  imagery that takes one to other worlds where dolphins speak and roads lead to exotic places, where darkness holds secrets hidden under layers of commonplace things. Poets have a way of turning life upside down and inside out, nothing is as it seems. Their eyes behold sights that exceed the superficial, they penetrate deep-down to break open the ordinary and find a freshness, a beauty, a brilliance unseen by those who live on the surface of life. Their vision provides bread for those who hunger for nourishment beyond humdrum routine and dull conversations, who yearn for rhapsodies that nurture their soul.

My faith sharing group recently discussed authenticity and what a challenge it is to be who we really are without any pretense or facade. According to Brene Brown, a psychologist, authenticity means having the courage to be imperfect, exercising compassion for ourselves and nurturing the sense of belonging that only occurs when we believe we are good enough. Practicing authenticity during our daily struggles is the way to have joy and gratitude in our lives, she says. Since our culture tells us how to look, how to act, what to say, it's hard not to worry about what others think or whether we will be accepted. This is especially challenging for young adults who strive to be like everyone else. Whether it's pierced noses, spiked hair, or torn jeans, they want to fit in with the crowd. But it's not just teens. How many of us have the courage to voice our opinion when it's different from our peers? Or wear short hair when everyone else's is long? Or own our mist...

Our country always seemed safe and protected from international attack until September 11, 2001. Since then, terrorism has spread to our shores, and Homeland Security has greatly increased its safety inspections and investigations. We no longer take our safety for granted on planes, buildings, or any place where crowds are gathered. The new 9/11 memorial in New York is a reminder of the nearly 3,000 people who died when the World Trade Center was demolished by two suicide plane attacks. It was a crushing blow to our country, one we will never forget. It is good to remember especially those who gave their lives trying to save others, firefighters, police, medical personnel, and co-workers. Jesus tells us several times in the gospel, "Do not be afraid." He tells us to trust him and to pray for our enemies. That is a real challenge in these times of radical Islamic and other terrorist attacks.We must pray that their hearts may be changed and cherish our freedom. We must li...

Mother Teresa with Sister Kathleen Egan, OSB, and Father Pat Tobin. Mother Teresa of Calcutta was proclaimed a saint by Pope Francis on Sept. 4. Everyone knows about her work with the poor and forgotten of the world. But during the canonization process, letters revealing her darkness were published and some people were scandalized.  It was a little disconcerting to realize that she suffered from depression and doubts during her life. She always seemed to be so dedicated and holy. After seeing a movie about her life recently, I learned that she struggled with her “call within a call” to serve the poor instead of teaching wealthy Indian girls. When she started her ministry to the poor in Calcutta, she encountered suspicion by some of the Hindus who thought she was trying to convert their children. Her religious order was also reluctant to heed her request for exclaustration. Also, Church officials were slow in approving her request to begin a new religious order to serve th...