Selected by Dan Clendenin G.K. Chesterton (1874–1936) The Convert After one moment when I bowed my head And the whole world turned over and came upright, And I came out where the old road shone white, I walked the ways and heard what all men said, Forests of tongues, like autumn leaves unshed, Being not…

By Dan Clendenin From Our Archives For other essays on this week’s texts, see Sr. Nancy Usselmann, FSP, The Light of Grace (2017); and Debie Thomas, Now I See (2020). For Sunday March 19, 2023 The Fourth Sunday in Lent Lectionary Readings (Revised Common Lectionary, Year A) 1 Samuel 16 :1–13 Psalm 23 Ephesians 5:8–14 John 9:1–41 This Week’s Essay …

By Michael Fitzpatrick From Our Archives Debie Thomas, “The Woman at the Well” (2020); Dan Clendenin, “The Woman at the Well” (2017), “If You Hear His Voice” (2014). For Sunday March 12, 2023 Lectionary Readings (Revised Common Lectionary, Year A) Exodus 17:1–7 Romans 5:1–11 John 4:5–42 Psalm 95 This Week’s Essay Michael Fitzpatrick is a…

By Dan Clendenin From Our Archives For other essays on this week’s texts, see Dan Clendenin, Abraham in Three Movements (2008); The Longest and Hardest Journey (2011); A Jewish Ritual for a Lenten Discipline (2014); and Debie Thomas, Where the Wind Blows (2020). For Sunday March 5, 2023 The Second Sunday in Lent Lectionary Readings (Revised Common Lectionary, Year A) …

By Dan Clendenin From Our Archives Dan Clendenin, Super Tuesday Meets Ash Wednesday (2008); Barbara Pitkin, Tempting Fate (2011); Debie Thomas, My Flannel Graph Jesus (2014); and Debie Thomas, Tempted (2020). For Sunday February 26, 2023 The First Sunday in Lent Lectionary Readings (Revised Common Lectionary, Year A) Genesis 2:15–17; 3:1–7 Psalm 32 Romans 5:12–19 Matthew 4:1–11 This Week’s Essay …

Selectected by Dan Clendenin I Am Giving Thee Worship With My Whole Life Originally from the Carmina Gadelica III, 41–47 Taken from Esther de Waal, editor, The Celtic Vision (Liguori, MO: Liguori/Triumph, 1988, 2001), pp. 1–4. I believe, O God of all gods, That Thou art the eternal Father of life; I…

Selected by Dan Clendenin TS Eliot (1888–1965) Ash Wednesday (first stanza) Because I do not hope to turn again Because I do not hope Because I do not hope to turn Desiring this man’s gift and that man’s scope I no longer strive to strive towards such things (Why should the aged eagle stretch its…

Selected by Debie Thomas Dante Di Stefano Fat Tuesday Out of exceeding gloom and out of God, I break a prayer from a growl and sing a hymn more ordinary than tap water. I pray that I might be more than my skin, this dance of atoms, this ritual of ash, this tribe of twilight…

By Dan Clendenin From Our Archives For other essays on this week’s texts, see Amy Frykholm, Illuminating the Ordinary (2011); Dan Clendenin, The Majestic Glory (2017); and Debie Thomas, Is It Good for Us to Be Here? (2020). This Week’s Essay For Sunday February 19, 2023 Lectionary Readings (Revised Common Lectionary, Year A) Exodus 24:12–18 Psalm…