Learning to Be a Peacemaker
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). When we hear this beatitude, we may think of a diplomat who negotiates a treaty to end a war, or a community organizer who arranges a face-to-face restorative justice circle between gang leaders and community members. But for most of us, the place to make peace is much closer to home: across the kitchen table, while driving together in the car, or late at night after a hard conversation. Ma
2 minutes ago3 min read
Love Is Something We Do
Look honestly at a typical Sunday. The soccer team has a 9 a.m. game, so the family skips Mass. One of you has to work through the weekend because there's a big contract bid due next week. The other worked late almost every night this week and wants a day off from everything. The kids have friends, games, and streaming. You did not plan to push God off the calendar. It was more like letting the calendar make the choice for you. And nobody--not you, not your kids, not your spo
Oct 243 min read
The Trap of Being Right
"I feel like I’m doing everything with the kids," Maria told her husband late one evening. Dan didn't hear her exhaustion. He heard an accusation, and he had his defense ready. “Tuesday I did bath time. Wednesday I did pickup. Saturday I took them to soccer.” Every item is true. Maria is silenced, and Dan feels a small surge of satisfaction: case closed. Until a few weeks later, when Dan forgot to call the plumber. Maria produced a text from March in which he promised he woul
Oct 173 min read
