In the Belly of the Whale

Then they took Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea’s raging abated.  Struck with great fear of  the Lord, the men offered sacrifice and made vows to him.  But the Lord sent a large fish, that swallowed Jonah; and Jonah remained in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. [read more]

St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to implore the favor of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men of every nationality, speaking different tongues, shall take hold, yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment[read more]

Change As Awful and "Awe-full"

Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us, / he sets himself against our doings, / Reproaches us for transgressions of the law / and charges us with violations of our training. / He professes to have knowledge of God / and styles himself a child of the Lord. / To[read more]

Transcendent Hope Amidst Cultural Devastation

For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance. Romans 8: 24-25 St. Paul speaks of “hope” in Romans 8 in the context of the groaning of all[read more]

Power and Repentance

At the time of the evening sacrifice, I, Ezra, rose in my wretchedness, and with cloak and mantle torn I fell on my knees, stretching out my hands to the Lord, my God. I said: “My God, I am too ashamed and confounded to raise my face to you, O my God, for our wicked[read more]

Memory and Faith

And the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. And Moses could not come into the Tent of Meeting, for the cloud abode upon it and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. And when the cloud went up from over the Tabernacle, the Israelites would[read more]