MM asks: Is there anything wrong with Mindfulness Meditation? It sounds like it's nothing more than living in the present moment. Could there be anything wrong with that?
We returned this week from our wonderful, grace-filled events in San Antonio. These were our first in-person, Women of Grace events in two years."Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." -1 Peter 4:8
“As they were going along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But he said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”¬ - Luke 9:57-62
During this time of international crisis, it’s very tempting to employ Eastern meditation techniques such as mindfulness meditation in order to escape our anxiety. But if we want the kind of peace that will carry us through this pandemic and beyond, we need to build it upon the right foundation.
Liturgically, we’re taking a brief breath in ordinary time. We’ve lived the long wait of Advent, and Christmas has been celebrated and it’s trappings stored away – nativity sets snuggled in attic alcoves and ornaments stacked in garage bins.
We have never needed the message in this video (below) more.
Our nation-and the world-are slowly grinding to a standstill in the wake of a virus we were barely aware of a few weeks ago. How quickly things change…it wasn’t part of my ‘plan’ this year to have my kids doing all schoolwork at home, my college son’s commencement canceled, all public Masses halted. I don’t even think it has totally sunk in, honestly. I’ve been wandering around in a daze, trying to figure out what to do next and where to get Lysol wipes and eggs.
