Oh, no! What on earth could I do? I rushed out of the Chicago place to take my car to the Nissan dealer in Evanston for some maintenance while I was attending a Dean's meeting in Chicago. In my haste, I left the book I was planning to read on the "L" on the kitchen counter. In addition, my phone has been acting up and would not give me power to last the duration of the ride. What was I to do for the hour that I would be in transit?

     I stopped at Starbucks for a cup of coffee and small square of cinnamon coffee cake, then walked the short block to the Main Street CTA station--using, for the first time my reduced fare senior pass. It was nearly 9:30 am, so most of the rush hour traffic was gone yet I was able to stay on the Evanston Express until I had to switch to the Red Line at Fullerton Avenue. Easy. Plenty of seats, so I didn't have to juggle the coffee cup.  

     But, again, no book. I'd already checked my e-mails. What if I just sat quietly and observed what was around me? The landscape outside the train. The people sitting in the car with me.  

     We spun through the far south part of Evanston, stopped at Howard Street just on the northern border of Chicago where more people from the north and west joined us. Unlike driving on Lake Shore Drive where there are broad expanses of Lake Michigan and park, we saw primarily the back sides of buildings bordering the tracks. Some brick walls almost close enough to touch, some with decks with potted plants and some with drying laundry.

      The people seemed to be a diverse mix--not so many looked like they were going into the office at that time of morning, except some in scrubs heading for a shift at Illinois Masonic or Northwestern. But there were lots of students readings heavy texts, families on outings, as well as as laborers. Very few were talking--except on their phones. Yes, the phones seemed to be the uniting feature. Heads bent toward the screens, fingers dancing over the keys, ear buds--some tethered, some wireless, noise canceling earphones, one after another glued to 3x5 rectangles. And I would be no different, except for a failing battery.

      We sped past Wrigley Field, without the crowds of last night's game. Switched to the red line where I clung to a strap with one hand and my remaining coffee with the other as we descended into the tunnels and past the stops I recall from my younger days. North and Clybourne, the destination for Old Town (and the place I first heard Jim Post in the day). State and Division for the Rush Street clubs. And then, finally, Chicago Avenue for the short walk to 65 E. Huron for my meeting with the Bishop and Deans.  

      Another day in the life of a priest. And I didn't miss my book at all!

 

See you in church,

Gloria+ 

We have now fully entered the long, green season that extends through the Sundays after Pentecost until Advent 1. Often called "Ordinary Time," it comprises the second half of the liturgical year.   

In the season after Pentecost, we celebrate what God does to empower us to live out the Gospel day to day and week to week in the context of our ordinary lives ("Internet Monk").

As we seek to resist the work of evil in our churches and communities, it is important that we  are careful in what we identify as evil. Jesus correctly recognises the forces at work within the demoniac, but does not label the person as evil. In contrast, Elijah, finds himself in confrontation with people who have given themselves over to evil purposes and actions. As Paul points out, it is tempting to use the law as the basis for deciding what is good or what is bad, and obedience to the law as the basis for deciding who is good and who isn't. But, from the basis of grace, and of Christ's inclusive invitation, good and evil look very different. Anything that would persecute another (as the Psalmists experienced), anything that would oppress another (like the demoniac) or anything that would deny grace to another (as Paul teaches) violates God's grace and love, and brings division and destruction. As we seek to stand for God's justice, it is important that we keep God's grace and love in mind, and that we rightly choose what to oppose and what to embrace.

The thumbnails and reflections excerpted from sacredise.com