John Freund
Have We Outgrown Nativity Scenes?
A good number of readers have either witnessed or were participants as children in appropriate costumes and props re-enacted the Nativity scene.
Who Wants To Change Your Way of Thinking?
Sometimes it seems that everybody wants to change our way of thinking.
What I Dreaded Became a Source of Life
It was a moment I think most of us dreaded. In the later stages of formation some 60 years ago I remember hearing the words “Mr. Freund please.”
If Nuns Ruled the World…
A self-described agnostic, Jo Piazza, writes… “I may not believe in God, but I do believe in nuns.”
Why Did Jesus Ask So Many Questions?
Jesus’ communication style focused on two things: He told great stories and asked great questions!
An Unorthodox Orthodoxy Test
There are all kinds of orthodoxy tests. We might even pass an orthodoxy oral exam. But how many can claim to actually lead lives reflecting this belief in crisis situations?
Vincentian Embodiment of the Jesus Movement
Thinking about the Vincentian Movement as being rooted in an awareness of God’s love which radiates out in widening circles.
Have You Ever Been Afraid?
The feast of the Assumption holds great hope for us.
Can Stories Change the World?
Parents learn quickly the power of story as a pacifier. But the stories also shape values. Stories and the lived stories of our example are how we learn our values. Jesus knew the power of stories! Do you really want to change things? Tell a story!
Leaven or Fungus for “Thy Kingdom Come!”?
Leaven is “a pervasive influence that modifies something or transforms it for the better.” Fungi are the principal decomposers in ecological systems. When are we leaven … and when are we fungi for the Kingdom?
August 6 – Transfiguration… or… Disfiguration?
Transfiguration – Disfiguration. We have a choice. Which light will we walk in?
Is the Our Father a Radical Prayer?
Jesus was a radical who was fully committed to doing God’s will. He showed us how radical he was when laid down his life for us. As he hung on the cross he said “Father, forgive them. They know not what they are doing.” Certainly the words of a radical!