Spirituality

By Fr. Glenn Jones:

Harry Potter fans will likely remember—not too fondly—Dudley, Harry’s spoiled cousin whose taunting Harry was forced to endure. And yet …  Dudley’s obnoxious entitled attitude is not so uncommon these days.

For instance, it’s not infrequent that people come to priests and ministers with the same plaint directed at Jesus: “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” (Luke 12:13) Sorry, dude (my phrase; not Jesus’); if that other person isn’t doing right, his conscience is not going to be suddenly shocked into doing so. Anyway … how do I know that you’re

By Fr. Glenn Jones:

Do we not just luuuvvvv David vs. Goliath stories—cheering for the outmatched underdog. This occurs a lot in sports, of course … getting a thrill when the “little guys” prevail over a widely-favored powerhouse, like the American “miracle” hockey team over the Soviets in the 1980 winter Olympics. That shared joy wasn’t just patriotism, but with “our team” victorious it was a feeling of sharing in that great win … even if we were thousands of miles away. After all, we don’t say, “Our team won,” … rather, “WE won!” Everyone loves a mouse that roars. Are not movies of the apparently

By Fr. Glenn Jones:

In the games of a democratic republic such as ours, we daily see politicians of every stripe vying for votes. “What can I say … what policy can I implement, or at least promote … that will gain me the most votes?” And, as we’ve seen probably since the beginning of democracies since ancient Greece, aspiring politicians promise the world, but often can—or will— provide only crumbs.

I often chuckle when I read the story of the trees in Judges 9. The trees clamor for the choicest trees/plants to be leaders, but those decline because they do not want to give up their joy and pleasant life.