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Dark Devotional

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September 2016

September 23, 2016

Dark Devotional: The Mad Balancing Act

This week’s Gospel reading is Jesus’ postmortem parable of the nameless rich man and the poor...

September 18, 2016

Dark Devotional: Mother of Sorrows

After accepting that the mystical experience I had was about being drawn into full communion...

September 08, 2016

Dark Devotional: I Don’t Believe in the Fatherhood of God, do you?

When it comes to the story of the Prodigal Son, it's hard to...

August 2016

August 28, 2016

Set the table and open the door: How to get youth (and other troubled souls) in the church

“When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your...

August 19, 2016

Dark Devotional: The Kingdom of God is for Losers, Weirdos, and Strange People

A few years ago, Stephen Colbert did a hilarious video about the need to...

August 11, 2016

Dark Devotional: Enduring Unto Death

Hebrews 12:1-4 Brothers and sisters: Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud...

August 05, 2016

Dark Devotional: Grab Your Loins and Go

Growing up in the Midwest, I have a few rough edges. Jess (and other women...

July 2016

July 28, 2016

Dark Devotional: Obsessive Compulsive Ecclesiastes

"Here is one who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill, and yet to...

July 22, 2016

Dark Devotional: An Argument with St. Paul about some Biblical Platitudes

"Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance,...

July 15, 2016

Dark Devotional: Finding Jesus on the Floor

But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight....

July 10, 2016

Dark Devotional: Who is My Neighbor?

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said,...

June 2016

June 30, 2016

Dark Devotional: In Search of a Mothering God

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah. thus says the LORD: Lo, I...

June 17, 2016

Dark Devotional: Grief as Treason

“On that day the mourning in Jerusalem shall be as great as the mourning...

June 10, 2016

Dark Devotional: Lazarus Syndrome

He cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied...

June 03, 2016

Dark Devotional: Murder Mysteries, Dead Bodies and Raising the Dead

As a paranormal mystery writer, I’m often ask why my books are so bloody...

May 2016

May 26, 2016

Dark Devotional: Still Waiting

An Ignatian Contemplation* on a Reading from the Gospel According to Luke (9:11B – 17),...

May 20, 2016

Friedreich’s Ataxia Awareness- Dark Devotional

Note: May 21 is Friedreich’s Ataxia Awareness Day. Part of me is afraid that I...

May 13, 2016

Dark Devotional: A Holy Distraction

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For many years, my father was the only saint I’d pray to. St. Paul...

May 06, 2016

Dark Devotional: The Bad-Enough Mother

Once, I met a smart young woman who was very interested in what kind...

April 2016

April 28, 2016

Dark Devotional: Fifth Sunday of Easter: All You Need is Love

A Reading from the Gospel According to John When Judas had left them, Jesus...

April 22, 2016

The Dark Devotional: Christians Drive Me Crazy

"My children...This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love...

April 07, 2016

Dark Devotional: Broken and Multiplied

My husband and I lived in Edinburgh, Scotland for three years in graduate school. We...

April 06, 2016

Sick Pilgrim Now Has Two Things in Common with the Pope

1. We're Catholic. 2. We share a publisher. We're writing a book for Loyola Press,...

March 2016

March 31, 2016

The Dark Devotional: St. Thomas Didymus: A Heart Made Double by Breaking

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So...

March 26, 2016

Dark Devotional: Holy Saturday: Sitting Outside of the Tomb

And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid...

March 24, 2016

Good Friday Dark Devotional: The Day God Abandoned God

Matthew 27: 45-46 From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in...

March 24, 2016

Dark Devotional: Holy Thursday: Thy Uncomfortable Will Be Done

“The stage is set. The curtain rises. We are ready to begin.” Benedict Cumberbatch probably...

March 17, 2016

The Dark Devotional: Retain Your Wounds

For the complete Mass readings for March 20, Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion, click...

March 10, 2016

The Dark Devotional: Fifth Sunday in Lent: The Dust on Her Lips

Click here for the complete Mass readings for March 13, 2016 Remember not the events...

March 04, 2016

The Dark Devotional: The Fourth Sunday in Lent: The Prodigal in the Pig Yard

A Reading from the Gospel According to Saint Luke. Now the older son had been...