No, I haven’t actually participated in drive though confession Catholic-style (although they exist), but rather a different kind. This exchange was more of a catch-all, non-denominational sort of approach.
“I miss thrifting,” I confided in the drive through barista who complimented my bag on the passenger seat. This was my fancy coffee run on a mother’s day gift card. Having not spoken to strangers in months, I was taken aback a bit by the claim. Quarantine is doing strange things to me, that’s for sure. What does that say about what I hold dear, I wondered as I drove away. Am I overly-consumeristic? Stir crazy? Simultaneously tired of these four walls and the pristine boxes that arrive on my doorstep in all of their pre-packaged glory?
[Yes]
And, maybe under some of that, there’s a search for the quirky, the tried and true balm that is finding that picture book you love for a quarter, or a vase for your summer bouquet’s that reminds you of your grandmas’s kitchen, the mug with your name on it (spelled correctly!).You know it’s not junk and you’re not supporting ‘the man,’ but instead lost pets, teen moms, folks just out of prison, and the combination just makes you want to shout it from the rooftops. Yes?
This is the season for shouting from the rooftops, after all.
At 8 pm most nights, I’m tying up my worn-out tennis shoes and heading outside for a some fresh air and blessed time alone. Nearly every night this coincides with our neighborhood howl, echoing down streets and over fences; out of garages and bedroom windows. With little more that we can offer, this audible appreciation is just that–loud thanksgiving for front-line workers. And basically, this is the formula for prayers of praise and thanksgiving. Our words of appreciation are what we have to fling back in response to grace out-poured, and so we do. We do not howl because it does anything for those on the front-lines at this time. Just as we do not give praise to God because it adds to God’s greatness–we simply know at our core to respond back in praise and thanksgiving.
It’s still Easter–Alleluia!
In the words of St. John Paul II, “We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song.” I’m embarrassed to tell you that my kids thought we were kidding when we explained that it is still Easter–home school catechesis for the win!
It is a triumphant season spiritually, if not particularly triumphant feeling, otherwise.
Along these lines, I’m sharing about St. Mary Magdalene in honor of her feast day today (who was a bit of an evangelist herself)! Mary Magdalene has the tremendous honor of being called ‘Apostle to the Apostles,’ because it was her discovery of the empty tomb in John’s Gospel that prompted her eager announcement to Jesus’ followers that he had disappeared from the tomb and appeared to her in the garden, though her eyes hadn’t seen it at first:
If you have done much historical reading, Biblical or otherwise, the lion’s share of accounting belongs to the voices of men. Women’s voices, roles and responsibilities waxed very much domestic and have been viewed as mostly inconsequential. Given this context, it would be logical, perhaps even wise to imagine that Saint Matthew’s crescendo in the final chapter of his Gospel would have heralded in the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection with unquestionable authority—particularly given the controversial nature of the claim: Jesus Rising from the dead. *After all, if you have incredible news, common sense dictates the tremendous benefits of the person left holding the metaphorical megaphone be…credible. Click here to read more.