Making Way for God 

Posted by Lenny Ricciardelli

Making Way for God 

As Christ reclined at the Passover meal and his impending betrayal, I have to imagine at least one of the disciples thought to himself, incredulously and perhaps even indignantly: And you’re not going to do anything about it?

So often we expect God to behave ... Read More »

Offerings

Posted by Lenny Ricciardelli

Offerings

Offer it up. My grandmother used this phrase with her children, and my mother, in turn, used it with me. It’s a kind of verbal heirloom, a gift of wisdom from a generation that knew suffering all too well.

We know it to be true that God will ... Read More »

Not As Man Sees

Posted by Lenny Ricciardelli

Not As Man Sees 

I don’t know Fr. Stu personally, but I’ve heard a fair number of his homilies. I think it is safe to assume that if he and I were to get into a discussion on any number of things, from church history to liturgical music to ... Read More »

The Long Walk The Messiah Before You

Posted by Lenny Ricciardelli

The Long Walk

The Messiah Before You

If you would have asked me on the morning of my confirmation what the chances were of the Holy Spirit getting into my heart, I would have told you they were about the same as getting water from a stone.

My faith ... Read More »

The Long Walk

Posted by Lenny Ricciardelli

The Long Walk

The walk down from Mount Tabor after the Transfiguration must have been a long one for Peter, James, and John. How differently they must have viewed the world with the eyes that had seen what they had just seen. How uncertain they must have been.

I ... Read More »

Formed and Fallen

Posted by Lenny Ricciardelli

Formed and Fallen

There is a version of myself that walks into church on Ash Wednesday and a version of myself that walks into church on Good Friday. Aside from having the same face, these women bear very little resemblance to one another.

Ash Wednesday Me is fired up. ... Read More »

The Hardness of Holiness

Posted by Lenny Ricciardelli

The Hardness of Holiness

Want to know the words I find hardest to say? “Lord, give me the strength.”

The world tells us to push ourselves outside of our comfort zone if we’re training for a marathon or applying for a job — but if we’re talking about God, ... Read More »

Feelings and Shiny Things

Posted by Lenny Ricciardelli

Feelings and Shiny Things

A friend of mine has a tradition on the first birthday of her children. Three items — a coin, a shot glass, and a rosary — are placed in front of the one-year-old, and whatever object he grasps supposedly bears insight into his future. A ... Read More »

If …

Posted by Lenny Ricciardelli

If …

It’s a surprising little word — if. For such a short word, it holds an abundance of excuses.

Personally, I could buy a new car if I had a dollar for every time I used the word “if” to explain away my own flaws. “If I wasn’t ... Read More »