Musings from the High Desert

We are all stories. Our stories are grounded on our genealogy and our experience, but there is more. We are also embedded in the genealogy of God's dealings with humanity. That's what the Sunday of the Forefathers is all about. Listen in.

This week as we enter more deeply into the Winter Lent, Fr. Gabriel considers how we might be better prepared to greet Christ in our lives, beginning with the basic notes we find in our catechism.

This week as we enter more deeply into the Winter Lent, Fr. Gabriel considers how we might be better prepared to greet Christ in our lives, beginning with the basic notes we find in our catechism.

The story of the woman whom Jesus healed on the Sabbath is a cautionary tale. From it we learn the perils of religion, specifically of scrupulosity and fastidiousness. Jesus teaches us to prefer compassion above holiness, if the choice must be made. (Luke 13:10-17)

The story of the woman whom Jesus healed on the Sabbath is a cautionary tale. From it we learn the perils of religion, specifically of scrupulosity and fastidiousness. Jesus teaches us to prefer compassion above holiness, if the choice must be made. (Luke 13:10-17)

The passage for this Sunday needs to be viewed in the context of the question put to Jesus just prior to the parable of the "rich fool," as it is called. We need to pay attention to two words in this text: "soul" and "fool." These are the leading words for our lesson. (Luke 12:16-21)

The passage for this Sunday needs to be viewed in the context of the question put to Jesus just prior to the parable of the "rich fool," as it is called. We need to pay attention to two words in this text: "soul" and "fool." These are the leading words for our lesson. (Luke 12:16-21)

This week, in the wake of our national election, Fr. Gabriel outlines the politics of Jesus and the ongoing struggle to live "in, but not of, the world." (St. Luke 10:25-37 and others)

This week, in the wake of our national election, Fr. Gabriel outlines the politics of Jesus and the ongoing struggle to live "in, but not of, the world." (St. Luke 10:25-37 and others)

From the Fathers to our contemporary understanding, Fr Gabriel looks at the story of the healing of Jairus's daughter and the woman with the issue of blood. (Luke 8:41-56)

From the Fathers to our contemporary understanding, Fr Gabriel looks at the story of the healing of Jairus's daughter and the woman with the issue of blood. (Luke 8:41-56)

Today Fr. Gabriel follows up on his consideration of II Corinthians 12 with more thoughts and insights into Paul's particular form of mystical experience and how it relates to us. (II Corinthians 12, part 2)

Today Fr. Gabriel follows up on his consideration of II Corinthians 12 with more thoughts and insights into Paul's particular form of mystical experience and how it relates to us. (II Corinthians 12, part 2)

In this passage Paul combines two aspects of his life, his mystical experience and his visible physical impairment. In a culture so focused on ideal exemplars of the human body as was Greco-Roman culture, Paul's appearance no doubt caused consternation. How could someone so physically unappealing be a "favorite of the gods?" Listen in. (II Corinthians 11:31-12:9)

In this passage Paul combines two aspects of his life, his mystical experience and his visible physical impairment. In a culture so focused on ideal exemplars of the human body as was Greco-Roman culture, Paul's appearance no doubt caused consternation. How could someone so physically unappealing be a "favorite of the gods?" Listen in. (II Corinthians 11:31-12:9)