Women's Leadership Fund

Home ›

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.

JANUARY 4, 2009: THE EPIPHANY OF JESUS

Readings: 
Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12

There’s a reason the magi narrative is found in Matthew and no other gospel. Only Matthew writes for a Jewish/Christian community. The other three evangelists write for Gentile/Christians.

DECEMBER 28, 2008: HOLY FAMILY

Readings: 
Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3
Hebrews 11 :8,11-12,17-19
Luke 2:22-40

Things don’t always work out as planned, even for biblical families. If our image of the “Holy Family” was created by the holy cards we were exposed to as children instead of the scriptural picture of them, we’re really in trouble. “Things” simply weren’t as ideal as the holy cards implied. Scripture offers us a much more nuanced picture of the relationship among the holy three.

DECEMBER 25, 2008: CHRISTMAS - EUCHARIST AT MIDNIGHT

Readings: 
Isaiah 9:1-6
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-14

I have a friend who every Christmas sets up two nativity scenes under her family tree. One is a stable with the new-born Jesus lying in a feed trough; Mary, Joseph, animals and shepherd gather round the baby while angels hover overhead. The other is a house with a large picture window through which one can see the infant Jesus asleep in his crib; Joseph and Mary are busy with household chores, oblivious both to the magi approaching their front door and an exceptionally bright star situated above their roof. The first scene is from Luke; the second, from Matthew.

DECEMBER 21, 2008: FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Readings: 
II Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a,16
Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38

Though it follows a valid biblical theology to occupy ourselves “doing good things for God,” at times it’s just as valid to sit back and reflect on what good things God has done for us, even before we started doing good things for God. Today’s three readings zero in on that theology.

DECEMBER 14,2008: THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Readings: 
Isaiah 61:1-2a,10-11
I Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28

In the earliest Christian writing we possess, I Thessalonians, Paul proclaims one of Christianity’s earliest guidelines: “Do not despise prophetic utterance!” We know from I Corinthians 14 that prophecy is the Holy Spirit’s prerequisite gift for forming a Christian community. The Apostle believes no one can be a disciple of Jesus unless he or she first surfaces, then listens to the prophets with whom the Spirit has blessed us.

DECEMBER 7, 2008: SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Readings: 
Isaiah 40:1-8 II
Peter 3:8-14
Mark 1:1-8
During a reflection day I was privileged to give several months ago for retired priests of the Peoria, IL diocese, the discussion turned to a topic haunting many older priests. We’ve spent much of our ministry preaching and living the reforms of Vatican II. Now as we grow old we see many recently ordained priests not only dissing those reforms, but encouraging their people to return to pre-conciliar theologies and practices.
Syndicate content