The Word that spoke to Moses from the burning bush, “Remove your sandals,” is the same Eternal Word Who came to John the Baptist in the flesh, “whose sandals [he] was not worthy to untie.” Even Moses. Even John the Baptist. History’s greatest men are only great insofar as they have Christ in common.

I’ve been thinking lately about the wisdom of learning things “by heart.” Prayers, for example. Or the Faith itself, the catechism. It’s been said time and again - and I would have said it too until recently - that simply memorizing things is not the same as knowing them. But, I’m not sure that I agree with that anymore.

Waiting on God may be the hardest part of the spiritual life, even though it requires nothing but openness. We’re so accustomed to doing things for ourselves, staying constantly busy about our own projects, that waiting for anything, let alone God, is torturous.

I’d like to look with you toward the season of Lent, which is upon us, offering a sacred time dedicated entirely to remembering the central events of our story, namely, the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ. We’ve heard it before, but let us not swipe so fast. Let us spend at least a few minutes more with Christ this Lent than we will with the often distracting things that vie for our attention.

What is anxiety? You know I’m not a psychologist, but I do have some thoughts about it based on my own experiences. Maybe you’ll recognize something of them in your own. The point I want to make here is that anxiety sets in when I believe my life to be a disconnected series of events, but that belonging to a good story can restore in me a sense of purpose, and with it, peace.

But what about that tree of which Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Why would God say to us, “The moment you eat from it you are surely doomed to die." If everything God created is good, what’s the deal with that tree?

Have you ever wondered what happened to all those people Jesus healed? Or all those He raised from the dead? Where is Bartimaeus now? Where is Lazarus?

We can’t love someone we don’t know. That’s somewhat obvious and often taken for granted. But it’s also impossible to know someone we don’t love. And that part of life is often overlooked.