Breath of the Spirit

Pastoral, Liturgical, Teaching, and Social Justice Moments brought to you by www.DignityUSA.org.

Breath of the Spirit is DignityUSA’s electronic spiritual and liturgical resource for our members and potential members. Nothing can replace your chapter or other faith community, but we hope you will find further support here for integrating your spirituality with your sexuality and all the strands of your life.

We welcome relevant homilies, inspirational writings, social justice opportunities, or theological articles from other sources also — particularly from wise women and men who can help us grow as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) and allied Catholic/Christians. You may volunteer to help with this program or send your comments by e-mailing info@DignityUSA.org ATTN: Breath of the Spirit.

OCTOBER 29, 2006: THIRTIETH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

Readings:

Jeremiah 31:7-9

Hebrews 5:1-6

Mark 10:46-52

Mark never thought anyone would read today's gospel passage independent of last week's. To get the full impact of each, one must reflect on both.

OCTOBER 22, 2006: TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

Readings:

Isaiah 53:10-11

Hebrews 4:14-16

Mark 10:35-45

To understand the original impact of today's gospel pericope, we must go back five and six weeks to check Mark's first and second prediction/misunderstanding/clarification passages. Today we have the last two elements of the evangelist's third series.

OCTOBER 15, 2006: TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

Readings:

Wisdom 7:7-11

Hebrews 4:12-13

Mark 10:17-30

Biographers of W. C. Fields always narrate an episode which happened shortly before he died. A friend came to visit him in the hospital and was amazed to find the comedian reading a Bible. "I didn't know you were a religious person, Bill," the friend said.

OCTOBER 8, 2006: TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

Readings:

Genesis 2:18-24

Hebrews 2:9-11

Mark 10:2-16

The concept of biblical myths is one of the most difficult things for people of our culture to understand.

OCTOBER 1, 2006: TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

Readings:

Numbers 11:25-29

Ames 5:1-6

Mark 9:38-42, 45, 47-48

I often remind my readers and students that when our sacred authors write, they're almost always addressing problems in the communities for whom they write. Rarely do biblical authors sit down on a beautiful, sunny day with no problems running through their minds and produce Scripture. If our ancestors in the faith had lived their faith correctly, we'd have no Scripture.

Vision Statement

DignityUSA envisions and works for a time when Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Catholics are affirmed and experience dignity through the integration of their spirituality with their sexuality, and as beloved persons of God participate fully in all aspects of life within the Church and Society.