Daily Reflections
January 29th, 2026
Most people seem to have this image of God that’s more akin to Zeus then anything else. Lately, I have come to embrace a God that is truly cosmic and universal. What I mean by that is His power extends across the entire cosmos. Everything is His creation, including any potential alien life living on other planets. I don’t think my faith is threatened by the potential existence of aliens to be honest. Whether they believe in God or not, I believe, if they exist, they are just as much a part of God’s creation as us. I think for Christianity to move forward in a healthy way, we need to embrace this vision of a truly universal faith. A God that intersects with everything, whose core teaching of loving one another can be found in every world religion. Limiting God to the walls of dusty old, non transformative, church doctrine is part of the reason so many Christians today turn into atheists. Can you blame them? They haven’t experienced the truly transformative aspects of the faith!! To be honest, I doubt their former pastors have either. God is too strong to be limited to the walls of a church. He is everyone for those seeking Him. I truly believe that. Any Christian who is doubting, who might happen to be reading this, I highly encourage you to read The Universal Christ by Fr. Richard Rohr. In it, he describes a theology that encompasses all of creation in a way that mainstream, modern, Christian teaching fails to do. Modern Christianity is, in many ways, very hollow and empty. Fr. Richard’s work has been praised by the late Pope Francis. I really think that kind of universal Christian thinking is the key to rehabilitating Christianity as a truly worthwhile faith!
Prayer I can feel Your all around me Lord. May everyone reading this feel Your presence everywhere. You intersect every light year and parsec of this beautiful universe. There is not an inch anywhere on Earth or in Heaven that isn’t touched by Your glory. May the whole world come to recognize that, and be transformed by your awesome presence. Amen.
January 27th, 2026: International Holocaust Rememberance Day
Today marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by the Red Army. It is the day the international community commemorates the Holocaust. The Jewish community has a separate day in the Jewish calendar, Yom HaShoah, which commemorates the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. I want to take this day to speak out about a very concerning thing I have observed so far this decade, a very alarming rise in antisemitism. Antisemitism is one of the oldest prejudices in the world. It is an insidious parasite that infects every aspect of society. From the heights of power to poorest of the poor, Jew hate manifests itself. It takes form on the left and right, no one is immune from it. Since the October 7th attacks in Israel, the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust itself, antisemitism has skyrocketed worldwide. On the right, it manifests rather bluntly. Neo-Nazis hanging disgusting and despicably antisemitic signs over overpasses. Works about the Holocaust being censored and removed from public schools. I remember a group of Neo-Nazis protesting outside of Disney World. What kind of world is this? People like Kanye West spew vile Jew-hate over the air and he still gets sales. Why are people supporting him? Dig deep enough into every far right conspiracy theory and at the core is the Jews. The Great Replacement theory that was promoted by Tucker Carlson, and credited as inspiring the despicable Buffalo supermarket shooting, posits that “globalists” are “importing” people of color into the US to “replace” white people. Whenever you hear a right wing figure mention “globalists”, they mean Jews. It’s always the Jews. Meanwhile, on the left, it manifests under the guise of “criticizing Israel”. I will not discuss Israel’s conduct in the war. Of course it is not antisemitic to criticize a country. No one criticizes Israel more then Israelis, but certain elements on the left take it to a whole other level. Jewish culture is mocked, people are openly chanting that they support Hamas (A far-right terrorist organization hellbent on the elimination of all Jews) outside of a synagogue in New York City. Outside of Israel, no place has more Jews then New York City. People use the conflict in Gaza as a shield for antisemitism. These people chanting outside of that synagogue, they don’t care about Gazans, the just hate Jews. In France, a 12 year old Jewish girl was raped for being Jewish. The attackers said their motivation was the Gaza war. In Boulder, Colorado, a peaceful marathon to raise support for the Israeli hostages was firebombed by someone shouting “Free Palestine”. An 82 year old woman was killed in the attack. Two embassy workers at a Jewish museum in Washington D.C, were shot dead in the street by an attacker shouting “Free Palestine”. I have seen tons of people online celebrating him, calling him a “political prisoner”. And last month in Sydney, Australia, two gunmen opened fire on a beach side Hanukkah celebration. The oldest person murdered was an 87 year old Holocaust survivor, the youngest was a 10 year old girl. She was petting animals at a petting zoo. Why are we so silent? Gen Z, why are we so silent when the biggest rise of antisemitism in YEARS is happening in our communities, in many ways led by members of OUR generation? If you study the numerous different antisemitic tropes, you will start to see them everywhere. They think they are slick with these dog whistles, right and left. Jewish culture is mocked online. Judaism as a religion is made fun of and misunderstood. People openly say online that Hitler was right. I have personally seen so many people openly calling for violence against Jews online in the name of Palestine. Jewish institutions are targeted as “Zionist”. An anti-Israel organization in the Boston area made a map of “Zionist” organizations to boycott, the map was then used by local far right orgs. So many left wing people are using the term “zio” online now. That is an antisemitic slur invented by KKK leader, David Duke. It is being used to mock and harass Jews online. Queer Jews report not feeling safe at Pride marches. Jewish cemeteries are being vandalized. Disgusting Jew haters like Hasan Piker, who openly supports Hamas, are getting millions of views on Twitch. That’s not even mentioning the far right influencers, Candace Owens, Nick Fuentes, vile Jew-hating scum. Holocaust memorials are vandalized. Israelis (Jews in general) are belittled and dehumanized for the crime of existing. Jews can not talk about being Jewish without some nutjob in the comments talking about the Gaza war. As if those people know where Gaza is. Or care at all about it’s people. People are openly xenophobic towards Israelis (and anyone openly Jewish. That’s the antisemitic trope of “dual loyalty”, look it up). Funny how these same xenophobes don’t lift a finger against Russians, people seem to understand that targeting citizens of a country for the actions of their government is wrong, unless the country in question happens to be Jewish (Double standard trope). Jews, who have no connection to the Israeli government at all, are called baby killers and accused of genocide (Blood libel trope). People invert, distort, mock, and openly deny the Holocaust. Tons and tons of young people are falling for this garbage. I say again, why is everyone so quiet? Christians, why are we so silent? Our Church has a shameful and disgusting history of antisemitism. From John Chrysostom to Martin Luther, Christianity has a LONG history of Jew hate. Martin Luther King Jr, did not shy away from speaking out against antisemitism. Jewish Americans were HUGE allies in the civil rights movement. Rabbis marched alongside MLK for civil rights, Jewish Americans were beaten and murdered alongside their black brothers and sisters. Again, I am not discussing the Gaza war. I am only talking about how Jews are treated now because of it. Openly being Jewish is dangerous. Synagogues have extremely tight security. They need to have tight security. There’s too many threats coming in. Christians, the Jews are our brothers and our sisters. They are our friends and our neighbors. They are human beings, they are the Imago Dei just as much as any of us. Have we no honor? No shame? As a society? Have you said “Oh if I lived during the Holocaust I would have hid people”. Well here is your chance to support the Jewish community. What are YOU doing? Are you speaking out? Are you learning about antisemitism? Are you learning to recognize it when it manifests in your peers, left and right? Are you? Or are you staying silent, just like in the 30s and 40s. Their is rot in our society, a society that persecutes Jews is rotten to the core. Are you going to put in the work to fight against it? You may ask, why do I care so much? I’m not Jewish. Well someone has to. Someone has to give a shit. There is a scant few openly anti-antisemitism non-Jewish people out there. I am sure there are many more who aren’t speaking up. No is the time. I have been passionate about Jewish issues since I was little. I have lost friends because of this issue. I have been called horrible things online. People have told me to kill myself, I have been sent death threats because of my advocacy for Jews. And I am not even Jewish. They always hide their names and faces, because they know that they are human slime. I will not be silent. If any of this upsets you, good, it’s supposed to. If it makes you angry, good, let it. We ALL need to question ourselves. We ALL need to examine the unconscious (or conscious) antisemitism in our lives. They said “never forget”, are you forgetting? Or are you standing by, awash in your ignorance and apathy, as Jew hate rears its ugly head for the umpteenth time.
Bible Verse: “Those who say, “I love God,” and hate a brother or sister are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” - 1st John 4:20 (NRSVUE) Amen.
January 26th, 2026
Where is God? Is He on some random planet out there in the universe? Is He on Mt. Olympus? Is He in the White House? Or the Kremlin? Or the Temple Mount? So many Christians have this idea of God as an old white man with a beard on a throne somewhere out there in the universe. It’s the way western humans have thought of God since the days of ancient Greece. But I do not think this is true. I think that God is everywhere. I think He intersects and is in every single atom of matter, and in all of the empty space in this universe. God isn’t some tyrant we need to fear. He isn’t some impersonal force as the Deists believe. He is reality, and is outside of reality. He is Love itself. He is Peace. He exists in the gaps and outside of them. Colossians 3:11 says that Christ (God) is all and is in all. I do not think He is restricted to the Church, or it’s doctrines. I think that the Holy Spirit is present in all religions, at least all of those who profess the supremacy of love. Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, and atheistic secular humanism, to name some examples. I am not saying all of these belief systems are 100 percent true. I think authentic Christianity is the best way to know God. But I also think that dismissing the wisdom and Spirit filled truth that is in other faiths is a huge mistake. Who are we to limit where God’s Holy Spirit can manifest? Who are we to limit where God can be? He is beyond space-time. He is everywhere, past, present, future. When you truly realize that, as I have this past year, it becomes increasingly hard to truly feel alone. God binds us all together whether we realize it or not. I am thankful to be bound to you, whoever is reading.
Prayer: Make visible to use the cords of love that unite all of creation. From the quarks and electrons, to the stars, galaxies, and whatever other objects fill our incredible universe. You are the sustainer of the Cosmos, Lord. Help us to see that, and stay in touch with it. Amen.
January 24th, 2026
Earlier today, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a man was murdered while giving aid to a protester being harassed by ICE. This is the second fatal shooting committed by ICE in Minneapolis the past month. A Venezuelan man was shot in the leg by ICE around 10 days ago. Alex Pretti’s murder, as well as the numerous other deaths attributed to ICE so far in this administration, highlight a growing specter of evil that is occupying this country. There is so much evil being spread around right now. The government is openly killing people in the streets of Minneapolis. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the amount of evil in the world. There’s certainly no shortage of it. Especially in this country right now. How does Jesus tell us to fight the evil in the world? American Christianity might say that the best way is with weapons. American society as a whole is obsessed with violence. It’s incredibly pervasive. When confronted with evil, we need to fight the fear it raises in us. The world system wants us to be afraid, to be divided by petty garbage. It wants us to be afraid of our neighbor, us loving our neighbors poses a threat. I really don’t know how to put my thoughts into words right now. All I know is that Christ is calling us to be here for each other. I love this country and it’s people, and it is under threat from people who despise everything I hold dear. I can’t let this country slip into madness and despair. I know I probably won’t have that big of an impact, but if I can help one person choose to keep going despite all of the fear then I will feel satisfied. Just be there for the people around you, irregardless of who they are. They can’t stop us if we are together. Is that cheesy? Is it cringe? Maybe. Do I care? Not really, because it’s whats needed.
Prayer: Bind up all of our wounds Lord. Bind up the splits that divide us. Heal the wounds of the family of Alex Pretti, and of every other person murdered by ICE in this country, white, black, and everything else. Bind us together in love. Amen.
January 23rd, 2026: Feast of St. Marianne of Molokai
Marianne Cope was born in 1838 in Germany before she immigrated to the USA. She and her family lived in Utica, New York before she entered the novitiate of a Franciscan order in Syracuse, a place I am very familiar with. While in Syracuse she served her community as a teacher and principal at German language schools in the area. The order she was in would go on to found the hospital I was born in funnily enough! In 1883, she received a message from King Kalakaua of Hawaii (Then an independent kingdom). Leprosy was spreading, and the king had requested dozens of other religious orders for assistance in caring for the sufferers who had turned him down. Marianne’s Franciscan sisters were the ones to heed the call. Most had turned him down because of the contagious nature of the disease. While in Hawaii, they managed multiple hospitals to care for lepers, starting at Kaka’ako Branch Hospital on O’ahu. The government appointed minister of this hospital was known for his poor treatment of lepers. St. Marianne informed the government that if he wasn’t sacked, she would return to New York. She and her sisters ended up taking control of the hospital themselves. Years later, Hawaiian authorities requested that her congregation establish a home for women and girls on the island of Molokai. Molokai had, for decades, been the island lepers were exiled too. This practice had been ended by time she got there however. Mother Marianne died in 1918 in Hawaii. What made me want to write about her is not just the fact that she lived in the same area as me, but also the fact that she showed such immense care for lepers. Leprosy has, since the time of the Bible, been a disease that would essentially turn you into a social outcast. Many people were afraid of getting it themselves. But it doesn’t make lepers any less human then people without it. Marianne saw that when so many others wouldn’t. Her and her sisters answered the call to do good in world. That is what the Kingdom of Heaven is about, going into the world with the intention of renewing it, one person at a time. Her resting place is in Honolulu, but a shrine and museum dedicated to her is located right in downtown Syracuse, and I would love to visit someday.
Prayer: In a world so full of shunning, gossip, and prejudice, help us, O Lord, to shine a light for those who live as outcasts. Through our sister, Marianne, You showed the lepers of Hawaii that they are truly loved, and that they are worthy of love. May we do the same to the outcasts in our communities. Amen.
January 22nd, 2026
My Christianity has grown in the past 6 years to be very counter cultural I would say. I think that’s what Christianity is supposed to be. For my American friends, think of the state of the Church in this country. It’s all about power, and dominance isn’t it? Tons and tons of Christians from all sorts of denominations claim to worship and follow Christ, but do their fruits match up with what Jesus said and did? Not in my view. Christianity has become a tool of empire. It’s become a tool used to belittle and bully those who don’t fit the mold of what Holy looks like in these people’s heads. Is it truly Christian to promote violence against those you disagree with? What happened to love your neighbor? And your enemy? It’s all about Might Makes Right for American Christianity. I remember hearing about some conservative pastors who were openly saying that the teachings of Jesus were too liberal. Are we really Christian at that point? Christianity is, in my opinion, supposed to be against the status quo. The world says it’s dog eat dog, but Jesus says to love your enemy. The world says it’s all about money, but Jesus says you can’t serve money and God. It’s very counter cultural once you get into it. The world has always been might makes right. Jesus was crucified by the epitome of might makes right. The spirit of the Roman Empire is, in many ways, very much alive today, especially in the Church. Think about it, everything is about greed, it’s every man for himself. We are surrounded by sin, and I am not talking about short shorts, Dungeons and Dragons, or heavy metal music. I am talking about unbridled greed, lust for power and domination, selfishness, and glorified ignorance and bigotry. We as Christians are supposed to stand against empire. Empire is Satan’s game. Not ours. I have been trying to separate myself as much as I can from empire the past 6 years. I will be posting more about that in the future. It’s not easy to try to separate from the world system. I don’t think that means you have to live as a hermit in the woods. What good does that do for the Church? I just think it means we should strive to live simple, intentful lives. We should live on the “edge of the inside” as the Franciscans say. I think we should all strive to be good examples. The world says, do this. But Jesus says, follow me. I know which one I am choosing.
Prayer: Lord, pull us away from empire. Pull us away from the mentality of might makes right. Empty our hearts of all of our hatred, our selfishness, and our greed. May we strive to live simply, and with loving intent. It is in doing that that we can truly honor you. May we live out the Gospel. Amen.
January 21st, 2026: St. Agnes' Day
St. Agnes was born into a family of Roman nobles in 291. Her parents were Christians, and they raised her in the faith. From an early age, she devoted herself to her faith and vowed to remain celibate. As such, she refused to marry the son of an influential official in Rome. It was revealed she was a Christian. She was publicly shamed, stripped naked, and ordered to work in a brothel. Legend says that as she was dragged to the brothel, she prayed, and miraculously grew hair that covered her body. Legend also tells that any man who attempted to abuse her in the brothel was struck blind. A man tried to rape her, and he was instantly struck dead, only to be brought back by her prayers. She was sentenced to death for being a Christian, many thought she was a witch. There are different accounts of how she died, some say she was beheaded, some say she was burnt at the stake. She was thirteen years old when she died. I was struck by Agnes’ story. This world is so incredibly cruel to children, little girls especially. At the height of ISIS’s brutal reign of terror over Iraq and Syria, thousands of Christian and Yazidi women and girls in northern Iraq were sold into sex slavery. I just read a report about an ICE agent who raped an immigrant woman in his custody. He said that was the price for her being able to see her children. Isn’t that absolutely heartbreaking and sickening? It is pure evil. Thousands of women and girls are trafficked annually. This is a sick world and a sick society. Agnes faced the brunt of it for refusing to deny her faith. We as Christians need to do more for those who have been enslaved by this world's unending lust. There are thousands of Agneses out there, Christian and non-Christian. The world is failing them, we cannot fail them.
Prayer: Protect our sisters, O Lord. Where there is slavery, may we stand for liberation. May we fight to end sex trafficking, rape, assault, and misogny the world over. May we live to see a day when women and girls are valued as full human beings, and not as objects for consumption. Amen.
January 20th, 2026
One problem I have found that many people have with Christian living is that they think being a Christian means you will never sin again, or you will suddenly evolve into a spiritually perfect being. This is not how it works. This is something I have struggled with myself. We think that God wants us to be perfect. We think we are supposed to be sinless. So when we do inevitably sin, we will punish ourselves for it. We can’t sin! Were Christians! If we sin, that means there’s something wrong with us, right? Wrong. Humans are NOT perfect beings. Only God is perfect. But what we are called to do is to be good. Perfect is not the same as good. Perfect demands flawlessness and purity. But no one is pure, and the stress from trying to obtain perfection will cause you to hurt yourself and those around you. Look at the Puritans, or the Moral Majority. They are so on guard from “sin” that they themselves are the ones who loose sight of the purpose of the faith. Perfection is not a fruit of the Spirit, goodness is. It is possible to be a good person. It is possible to improve yourself. Jesus calls us to die to our old sinful selves and to do good. But He also understands we will mess up. You WILL sin again, you WILL falter, you WILL buckle. But Jesus is always there, every time. You are never too sinful to be cut off from Christ. Christ is in us, pulling us towards Him. He calls us to do good in the world, to bring about His kingdom on Earth. We are fundamentally flawed beings, and yet He STILL calls us to be His agents on Earth. Moralism only increases sin. Stressing over whether this or that is a sin only leads to sin. The only thing that can stop that is the grace of God. Stop worrying about sin! Worrying about sin only causes sin. Trust that God’s grace will lead you towards goodness. Feel the Spirit working inside you. Feel it pulling you towards goodness. Do not fret over your mistakes or infractions. Taking your worries to God. Trust Him to lead you to goodness!!
Prayer: Deliver us from our worries and fears, O Lord. May your Holy Spirit fill our hearts and guide us towards the goodness we are meant to exemplify. May our hearts be transformed. May we embody the fruits of the Spirit. May we seek to do good in the world. May it be that we break free from the chains of Sin and worry, into the eternal freedom of Your grace. Amen.
January 19th, 2026: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
So today is MLK Day. I want to use this moment to address something going on in the world that has captured my attention the past 2 weeks. The revolution currently going on in Iran. This is the reason I have gone a few days without posting. The terror and violence going on over there in pursuit of justice and liberty has gripped my mind. It doesn’t help that I have a friend who lives in Iran, I haven’t heard from her in weeks. To put it simply, Iran is run by exactly the kind of government that Christian nationalists in the US want to implement. A brutal, Islamist, dictatorship. Women are second class citizens. There are scores of stories of Iranian women being arrested, raped, and summarily executed for the horrible crime of, singing in public, or, wearing your hijab wrong. Religious minorities are beaten, harassed, and murdered. Non-Persian ethnic groups, like the Kurds and Baluchis, are intimated and their culture and language is suppressed. Gay men are executed or forced to undergo unwanted sex changes. This is the Handmaid’s Tale bullshit that the beautiful and historic Iranian nation has had forced upon them for almost half a century. This is what they are dying in the streets against. Those revolutionaries in Iran are my age. They know something that people my age in my country seem to have forgotten. They know the value of what we take for granted. Have you (If you live in a western country) ever pondered how remarkable it is that, in a world full of religious violence, you are able to believe (or not believe) anything you want? Or how, if you identify as a woman, you are free to dress how you want, sing wherever you want, or have a say in your own affairs? Women historically have not been treated well on this Earth to say the least. But the west, despite all of the many problems western women still face, has been moving towards gender equality the past century. The Iranian people are being murdered in the streets of their home for the rights we take for-granted and ignore in our, oh so precious, apathy and pessimism. Many people my age in this country have said next to nothing about it. The greatest political development since the fall of the Berlin Wall, one of the biggest wins for democracy in modern history may be upon us. And everyone is silent. People flooded the streets for Palestine. But why not Iran? Estimates say as many as 20,000 human beings have been murdered by the tyrannical government in their quest for liberty, justice, and equality, values that even the most cynical of us claim to hold dear. And we are silent. This is a movement for feminism, it is a movement for self-determination, it is a movement for freedom of religion, it is a movement of huddled masses, yearning to breathe free. And all most people in the west can muster is an empty social media post. While we chase trends, and endlessly doom and gloom, the Iranian people have said enough. It was in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, the Reverend King wrote “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice anywhere”. There is injustice, to the highest degree, going in Iran right now. Little children have been shot and murdered by government forces, protesters have been shot and murdered in hospital beds. People are being hanged. Families have been ripped apart. Where are the great humanitarians of the west?! Where is the UN?! Where are the million of people who were out on the streets last year chanting “No Kings”?! I know, it is cringe to have sincerity, or to care about the world around you. But if you (especially if you are Gen Z and were protesting hard against Trump and for Gaza the past few years), if you are silent right now, as our brothers and sisters in Iran are being executed, fighting for the rights that we take for granted, all I can say is it’s time to speak the fuck up and put aside your own self-righteousness. You may ask, what does this have to do with Christianity? Well, it has EVERYTHING to do with Christianity. My faith tells me that every human being is made in the image of God. We are ALL one in Christ, whether we believe it or not. So when my fellow human beings are being murdered for the crime of asserting their rights and self worth, of course I am going to speak up. On this day, we celebrate a great revolutionary and saint who gave his life for the idea that every human being has inherent worth and dignity. When my siblings are being murdered by a government, especially one who uses the name of God to justify their demonic crimes, a government who tries to reject that dignity and force them into a state of subjugation, well then of course I will speak for them. The Internet is down in Iran, they cannot speak. We need to speak for them. Are they not our brothers? Our sisters? Our family? RAISE YOUR VOICE FOR IRAN! ĀZĀDI! ĀZĀDI! ĀZĀDI!
Prayer: May your Holy Spirit inundate the people of Iran, Lord. Bless them with strength, with holy Love for their fellow citizens, and with the spirit of determination and perseverance you gave to your servant MLK. Bless those who are grieving, those who are fighting, those who have been orphaned, those who have lost friends, and those who feel beaten, battered, and alone. May it be that the Iranian lion rises for the betterment of all humanity. May justice roll down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream. Amen.
January 15th, 2026: Feast of St. Íte of Killeedy
Íte was an Irish nun who was born in 480 in what is now County Waterford. When she was sixteen, legend says that she rejected an arranged marriage to become a nun. She founded a community of nuns in a place called Cluain Creadhail, later renamed Killeedy after her. Her sister, Fiona, also joined her in the religious life. Eventually, she started a school for boys at Killeedy, among her pupils was St. Brendan. She was popular in the Celtic Church as a spiritual director, leading many people to holiness. She fasted and prayed constantly. Celtic Christianity was better (compared with other variants of the faith) at recognizing the immense value of women in the Church. I think that so many Christians today overlook the IMMENSE contributions women like Íte have made to the faith. There’s an epidemic among the more conservative strains of people thinking that women are not supposed to be preachers, or are supposed to be subservient to their husbands or the men in their lives. I truly think that thinking that is abominable and anti-Christian. Galatians 3:28 reminds us that their is no male or female, we are all one in Christ. Who are we (Male Christians) to deny St. Paul, and deny our sisters in faith the right to exercise their God-given right to preach and to inspire holiness in us? I never got confirmed, but if I did, my patron would have been St. Mary Magdalene. The first person to preach the resurrection of Christ was a woman. And you will sit here and tell me women like her, and like Íte, are supposed to keep their gifts silenced? Repressed? Quiet in Church? That feels like anathema to me. Women are our equals in Christ. That’s not even to mention the contributions Non-binary, trans, and other queer Christians have made to the faith. Christianity is not a straight white man’s religion, no matter how much white American Christianity might want it to be.
Prayer: Help us to see, and be moved by, o Lord, the immense talents of the women like St. Íte, of our faith. Help us to see the immense diversity that exists in the communion of saints. You are not one shade, You are all shades. You are Diversity, Lord. Help us to see You in all of our fellow human beings. May we inspire holiness in those around us, just as Íte did. Amen.
January 14th, 2026: Feast of St. Felix of Nola
Felix of Nola was a priest who lived in the 200s. When his father, a centurion named Hermias, passed away, Felix sold most of his property and gave the proceeds to the poor. He then decided to become a priest. When the bishop of Nola, Maximus, fled to the mountains when the Roman government began persecuting Christians, Felix stayed behind and instead was beaten and thrown in jail for his faith. Legend says that he was freed from jail by an angel, who instructed him to go assist Maximus. He hid from the Romans with him in a vacant building. It is said that a spider quickly spun a web all over the building’s front door so that the Romans would think it was abandoned. The two would end up surviving that round of persecution. When Maximus died, the Christians of Nola wanted Felix to replace him as bishop, but he instead nominated a fellow priest named Quintus for the role. Some legends say that he was eventually martyred in another round of Roman persecution. Still other’s say that he lived to grow old and died in poverty. I feel like there are lessons we can take from Felix’s life. I find the fact that he sold most of his possessions to be very inspiring. Things tie us down to the world and to the evils of it. While of course it is ok to have and to cherish things in a healthy way with intent, I feel like, especially today, people are increasingly vain and consumeristic. We should all strive to live simple lives, if we must own things they should be meaningful things that bring us true joy, not disposable items or things we only buy because they are trendy (Eg. Labubus and water bottles). That’s what I think anyway. I feel like we should strive to be more like Felix. Sell your possessions and give them to the poor. Instead of chasing trends, use that money for charity.
Prayer: Grant us, O Lord, the gift of being able to detach from what the world wants us to buy. May we cease the endless race of trends and fads, and may we use our resources with careful intent and generosity. Amen.
January 13th, 2026
Usually what I do is look up what day it is on Wikipedia and it’ll tell me whose feast day it is. But today I didn’t feel the spirit calling me towards any of the saints listed. Obviously nothing against them, I just didn’t feel inspired by them. Instead I’ll talk about something else. In Mark 12, Jesus tells us that the two greatest commandments are to love God, and love your neighbor. Both of these are plucked directly from Jewish scripture (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, and Leviticus 19:18). These two form the basis of Christian practice in my opinion. The whole of Christian virtue hangs on these two. But I want to bring up something, who is our neighbor? It’s easy to love the people who are nice to you, and it’s also easy to hate the people who hate you. In doing that, it becomes something humans can manipulate to their own ends. And to stop this from happening, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan when asked “Who is my neighbor?” in Luke 10. To put it simply, a Jewish man is ambushed while riding from Jerusalem to Jericho, the bandits leave him for dead. Two fellow Jews walk by and do not help him. But then a Samaritan (A religion similar but distinct to Judaism) stops and helps the man. Jesus asks, which one of those three is the fallen man’s neighbor? It is the one who showed mercy on him. He then tells the person the story is addressed to “Go and do likewise”. The Jews and the Samaritans hated each other. But in this story, Jesus shows us that our worst enemy is our neighbor. Everyone is our neighbor. May we all, Christian or not, come to realize that fact, and do likewise.
Prayer: Help us to see, O Lord, our neighbor in everyone we meet. May we strive to transform the world into one great neighborhood, where we all look out for each other. Amen.
“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” - Matthew 22:35-40
January 12th, 2026: Feast of St. Tatiana
Tatiana was a Roman woman who lived in the third century. Not much is known for sure about her. But according to legend, her father was a secret Christian and brought Tatiana up in the Christian faith. When she became an adult, she chose to commit herself to Christ fully. She eventually became a deaconess in a Roman church. She was known for the care she showed to the needy. She fasted and prayed constantly. Under the rule of the teenage emperor, Alexander Severus, Christians were persecuted. Eventually, Tatiana would be arrested for her faith. They tried to force her to give sacrifices to an idol of Apollo. Instead, Tatiana prayed, and according to legend, while she was praying, and earthquake destroyed the idol and part of the temple. For this she was tortured repeatedly. They tried to force her to worship the goddess Diana, again she began praying, and the idol was destroyed. For this, she was further tortured. They tried to feed her to a hungry lion, but the lion licked her instead. Eventually, she was beheaded. Her father too was executed for raising her in the faith. I do not know if I believe the tale of St. Tatiana one hundred percent. I don’t think it’s impossible, and it is a very fascinating story, but I am a little skeptical of the legend presented about her. But I would like to take this time to reflect on the intense persecution Christians in the Roman empire went through in those first few centuries. I left out some of the more gruesome things they did to Tatiana, but torture like that very much was real. Christians most certainly suffered and died for their faiths in ways similar to Tatiana. In an age where Christians in the west see themselves as being persecuted, while Christians in the east actually are being persecuted, we should all pray for a world where you are free to practice your faith without the fear of death.
Prayer: O Lord, we pray that you will grant to all Christians who are being truly persecuted for their faith in you, the strength and spirit of Tatiana. May we all show bravery in the face of persecution, and may you forgive those who persecute us. Amen.
January 11th, 2026: Theophany
The Feast of the Baptism of Christ, also known as Theophany, is typically celebrated on the Sunday after Epiphany. It’s been a crazy few weeks so I wasn’t able to write yesterday, I apologize. This event marks the start of Jesus’s public ministry. The Gospel of Matthew records that Jesus was baptized in the Jordan river by his cousin, John the Baptist. When this happened, a loud, booming, voice came down from the heavens, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” In addition, the Holy Spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove. This brings to mind the two kinds of baptism discussed in Christianity. Baptism by water and baptism by the Holy Spirit. Baptism by water is typically something a priest or pastor does to you, either by sprinkling water on your head, or being fully immersed in the water. Some denominations baptize infants and some only baptize believing adults. Personally, I think you should only be baptized if you made the decision. It is a commitment to Christ. But that’s just me. Holy Spirit baptism is more spiritual. It is something that God himself does to you. He sends the Holy Spirit to you. I have experienced things I can only describe as being baptized by the Holy Spirit. I can only describe it personally as an inexplicable feeling of peace, contentment, joy, and a desire to do good. This happened to me back in 2020 and it lead me into the spiritual revival I have been experiencing for a while. Faith doesn’t come from us, we can choose to be baptized and commit ourselves to Christ, but ultimately, faith only can come from God. God gives us our faith. He is the one who draws us in. Just like what Jesus calls St. Peter and St. Andrew to do, God is a fisher of men. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is God hooking us and reeling us in towards Him. Then He throws us back into the world so we may bring about His kingdom. It’s a momentary encounter with God that defines who we are as Christians. I truly believe that every human being will be pulled in by the Holy Spirit someday. His love is too great. It will reconcile all things together.
Prayer: Reel us all in towards You, o God. May we be inundated with your Holy Spirit. And may we be filled with the fruits of that Spirit, so that we may make the world a better place, and bring about Heaven on Earth. Amen.
“And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw God’s Spirit descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from the heavens said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” - Matthew 3:16-17 NRSVUE
January 10th, 2026: Feast of St. Pietro Orseolo
Pietro lived in Venice in the 10th century. In fact, from 976 to 978, he was the Doge, or Duke, of Venice. The Doge was the highest position in the Republic of Venice. He was known for being a generous leader. He was known for the great deal of care he showed towards widows, pilgrims, and the orphaned. With his own wealth, he financed the reconstruction of, what is now, St. Mark’s Basilica. On September 1st, 978, he left Venice to go join the Benedictine Abbey in Prades, France. He left his job, his wealth, and his family to become a monk. His only contact with Venice was instructions left to his grandson, Otto, on how to live a life of Christian virtue. Otto would go on to become Doge years later. After years in the monastery, he finally left to become a hermit in the surrounding forests. He was a hermit for seven years and died on this day in 987. I have a few thoughts about St. Pietro. I believe he was a good man who dedicated his life to living according to the two Great Commandments. He was a generous man who did good for his community. But I do have problems with traditional Christian monasticism. Isolating yourself in a monastery can be a good way to grow spiritually. But I think it also has grave downsides. I believe that Christians are supposed to be exemplars to the world. We are supposed to be the salt of the Earth, not contained to a salt shaker sitting on the shelf forever. I think it was the wrong move to abandon his job and his family to live a life of monasticism. I think it is prudent for all Christians to live their faith in the world.
Prayer: Lord, may you make of us the salt of the earth, and the light of the World. May your everlasting love shine through us towards all. May we serve as beacons of goodness in a dark world. Peace on Earth, and good will towards all. Amen.
January 9th, 2026: Feast of St. Julia Chester Emery
Julia Chester Emery was an Episcopalian who served as the National Secretary of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Board of Missions. Born in a family with eleven kids, Julia followed in her family’s footsteps in her work with the Church. Her sister, Mary, was actually the National Secretary prior to Julia. Her job was to coordinate missionary work abroad. She visited every Episcopal dioceses in the US at least once doing that. She also traveled frequently overseas. In 1908, the Bishop of New York nominated her to serve as an Episcopal delegate to the first Pan-Anglican congress. She also traveled all over Asia in her mission to spread the Gospel. During her tenure as National Secretary, she helped found the United Thank Offering. The UTO is an Episcopal organization that funds and supports women missionaries abroad who serve as nurses and teachers. It still exists today and supports missionaries of all genders and backgrounds. St. Julia spent years of her life in pursuit of missionary work. She worked tirelessly to spread the Gospel and to fund health and education for those in need of it around the world. I think her example is something we can all look to.
Prayer: Lord, I pray that you bless us with the same giving spirit and dedication to the Gospel that you blessed Julia with. May we, like her, work hard towards making the world a better place. May we dedicate our lives to this holy work of helping to repair creation like Julia did. Amen.
January 8th, 2026: Feast of St. Abo of Tiflis
Abo of Tiflis was born in Baghdad sometime in the 8th century. He grew up in a Muslim family and worked as a perfumer. Eventually he wound up in the kingdom of Kartli (Today part of Georgia). While in Georgia he began to feel drawn to Christianity. He converted after talking and arguing with local clergy, he was convinced Christianity was true. Georgia at the time was ruled by Muslims and he didn’t feel it safe to openly convert. He began praying Christian prayers in secret instead of the 5-times-a-day Salah prayers in Islam. Eventually, the prince of Kartli fled further north to Khazaria and took Abo with him. In Khazaria, Abo was free to practice his new faith and was finally baptized. Abo was a devout Christian, when the prince eventually moved back to Georgia, Abo chose to go with him, despite the warnings that it wouldn’t be safe. He was zealous for his faith, he would preach on the streets of Tblisi and simply did not care when threats were made against him. In 786, Abo was arrested by the authorities and was told to convert back to Islam. But he refused. He was sadly executed for his faith on January 6th, his feast day is marked in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches on January 8th. What inspires me about Abo is his sheer zeal and dedication to preaching. He kept on going even though he knew his life was at stake. I hope and pray none of us are ever in a situation where we would face death for our faith. Martyrdom is not something we should aspire too, but I do believe that Abo showed conviction in not giving up his faith. I am happy to have learned about him today. I apologize for being a day late, there was a lot going on yesterday.
Prayer: Lord, I hope and pray that you will grant us the same courage, and desire to spread the Good News, that Abo had. May we all be evangelists, not just in the words we say, but in our actions, and in our habits. Amen.
January 7th, 2026: Feast of Blessed Marie Thérèse Haze
Marie Thérèse Haze was a Belgian nun who founded the Daughters of the Cross, a Catholic congregation that focuses on the education and health of the less fortunate. At the time, Belgium was occupied by the Netherlands. Marie and her sister, Ferdinande, wanted to join a religious order, but monasticism was illegal in the Netherlands at the time, so they practiced in secret. Eventually, they opened a free school for local girls who could not afford education. Eventually, once Belgium gained independence, Marie was able to finally establish her order in 1833. Marie Thérèse Haze is actually not her birth name. She was born Jeanne Haze but took the name Marie Thérèse when she was finally able to profess her vows upon founding the Daughters of the Cross. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on the 21st of April, 1991. Nowadays, her order has members in nations as diverse as the UK and Pakistan. What I liked most reading about her is her dedication to serving the poor girls in her community. Education is not an easy job, but they offered their school for free because they knew not everyone can afford that. The world needs more people like Marie and Ferdinande. They saw education as a holy mission to make the world a better place. I hope she is canonized one day.
Prayer: Lord, in an age where illiteracy and anti-intellectualism are rising, give us the courage and energy to share the light of knowledge with those around us who need it most. May all educators use their gifts for the benefit of all mankind. Amen.
January 6th, 2026: Epiphany
Epiphany, also known as “Little Christmas” is a feast to celebrate and honor the manifestation (epiphany) of Christ to the Gentiles. It celebrates the visitation of the Magi, or Three Wise Men, as told in the New Testament. No one is quite certain on if there were actually three individuals who visited the baby Jesus. But what their visit signifies is greater then the debate over how many there were, it signifies Christ being made manifest beyond the borders of Judea. Christ is the Savior of the Cosmos. He came to us in the flesh through the blessed people of Israel. But His mission encompasses all of reality. His light reaches to all of us. Isn’t that amazing? People from the furthest reaches of the known world were among the first to witness Heaven coming to Earth. They knew He would be king, and they sought to honor him as such. I feel like more people should celebrate Epiphany. His light will envelope us all, just as it did to those (potentially) three wise men millennia ago. Let us all make our metaphorical pilgrimage to honor him. Many people see January as the most depressing month, I can understand why. Christmas ends, the reality of winter starts to set it, their is little sunlight. But the celebration is just getting started. This season marks the celebration of the Epiphany of Christ. There’s so much to be celebrate!! The light of the Christmas star still shines bright through the dark night of winter. I hope everyone has a great Epiphany season!!
Prayer: Lord, help us to see Your light and to spread it. May your star shine ever so brighter, and may it continue to inspire all those who seek it out. We are all Magi, may we seek to give praise to You, and to proclaim your glory. Amen.
“Glorious now, behold him, arise, King, and God, and sacrifice, Alleluia, Alleluia, sounds through the Earth and skies!” - We Three Kings
January 5th, 2026: Twelfth Night
Christmas is my favorite holiday. It always has been, I feel like, in many ways, it is just as important as Easter. It’s a celebration of the Christ taking form as a human. The word of God Himself emptying into the form of a little child in a manger. It’s something that deserves to be celebrated for more then just one day. This Christmas season, I took the opportunity to embrace the childlike aspects of the Kingdom of Heaven. As I wrote before, Heaven belongs to children. Because it takes a childlike sense of wonder and awe to truly respect and understand the beauty of creation. Christianity has never been about us “going to Heaven”, it is about Heaven coming to Earth. Children, so full of questions and curiosity, are able to sense this I think. There’s beauty and love all around us. From the tallest trees to the smallest pebbles, all of creation is full of the beauty and glory of Heaven coming to Earth. That’s what Christmas is to me, the celebration of Heaven coming to Earth. I truly do believe that one day, Jesus Christ will return in the flesh, and God will be all in all. Every human being (and, in my opinion, every creature in general), no matter how hard-hearted, will be struck with such a sense of wonder and original innocence by God that we can not comprehend the joy and contentedness we will feel. I feel like a minuscule part of that is actually obtainable to us now, and that that is what the Gospel is pointing towards. Can you feel the magic of reality? Can you feel the ʟᴏᴠᴇ and ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ that binds us all together? That is what I have been feeling this Christmastide, in spades. It’s mystical, it’s holy, it’s recognizing the Kingdom of Heaven in your midst. It is recognizing God in and around all things. I can honestly only describe this feeling as romantic. Romantic love for all of creation, not just for one special person, everything is our fellow creature. To put it simply, this Christmastide, I have fallen in love with the universe. He is everywhere and in everything, He loves all of us, He is reconciling all of us, in all of our complexity and fallibleness, to Himself. I can see this now. I hope that all of you reading can too, I hope you all have had a merry Christmas!!
Prayer: Lord, help us to sense the wonder and joy of Your presence all around us. Help us to be Your agents, doing Your will to bring Your Kingdom down to Earth, one good deed at a time. We are thankful for our existence. We are thankful for your Holy Spirit. May it encompass the whole of the universe someday. Amen.
January 4th, 2026: Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Elizabeth Ann Seton was the first American citizen to be canonized a saint by the Catholic Church. She was born in New York City just a few years before the Declaration of Independence, she grew up in the Episcopal Church (Anglican if you don’t know). She converted to Catholicism after a trip to Italy. Her husband sadly passed away around the same time. Elizabeth was left with 5 children to take care of. At the time, Catholicism was not a common sight in the US, Catholics were often targeted for their faith. Elizabeth herself earned the scorn of many friends and family for her faith. She would end up founding the first Catholic school in the country. Private and what little public schools there were at the time had a bias towards Protestant Christianity. Catholic families sought schools that would be built for and by Catholics. Elizabeth ran her school for the benefit of Catholics in the area. She also founded the first Catholic religious community in the US, the Sisters of Charity. The Sisters of Charity still exist to this day. They are based in the Bronx and mainly do education and nursing work. Elizabeth gave so much of her life to the practical aspects of her faith. She would spend her time out in the world, helping whoever needed help. She would do all this while facing so much misery. Illness, the death of loved ones, including her husband and 2 of her children. But through it all she kept doing what she was called to do, helping others.
Prayer: Lord, in a time when so many Americans are hellbent on looking out only for themselves, point our eyes toward Mother Elizabeth, who dedicated her life to serving others. May we serve you by serving others, just as she did. May you inspire the hearts of everyone in this country to do good, as you did to St. Elizabeth Seton. Amen.
January 3rd, 2026: Feast of St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara
St. Kuriakose was the first male Indian saint to be canonized in the Catholic Church. He was born into the St. Thomas Christian community of Kerala, India, so called because St. Thomas evangelized there centuries ago. In the ranks of Indian society, Kuriakose was closer to the top, but he very much valued the lower classes. In India, he is perhaps most known for his fight to bring education to the so-called “untouchables”, the lowest rank of the Indian caste system. He founded a school at his monastery that explicitly welcomed them. It was taboo to teach the untouchables how to read and write in Sanskrit, but Kuriakose did not care. In addition, he began the practice of giving midday meals to the students of his schools, figuring it would help further their education. This practice has since spread to all public schools in India. What inspires me the most about Kuriakose is his dedication to education. As someone who does want to pursue some sort of career in the education field, I feel like a good education is crucial to being able to succeed. Kuriakose understood this, and he fought all his life to spread knowledge to those who, by societal design, were forbidden from it. I think that is a very noble cause. His reforms helped transform Indian society. He led monasteries, founded schools, and embraced what it meant to be a Christian. He was canonized by Pope Francis in 2014. Christianity in India has a long history going back to the time of the Apostles. Multiple Churches are active in Kerala. St. Kuriakose belonged to the Syro-Malabar Church, an Eastern Catholic Church in communion with the Pope. As I said before, on of my goals with this project is to expose myself to aspects and figures from all over Christianity and Christian history. I am glad I got to learn and write about St. Kuriakose today.
Prayer: Lord, through your servant, Kuriakose, you helped spread education and literacy to the untouchables of India. I pray that you empower us with the same drive to spread knowledge to those around us. May we be everlasting lights, always seeking to inform and build a society built on love and wisdom. Just like Kuriakose, may we strive to embrace and spread the contemplative life. Be with us, Lord, empower us to educate in Your name. Amen.
January 2nd, 2026: Feast of St. Seraphim of Sarov
Mysticism is a word that is thrown around a lot. Far too often it is used as a buzzword, referring to New Age hippie spirituality. But mysticism itself is an incredibly rich tradition that has variants in dozens of world religions. I have spoken of Franciscan Christian mysticism often in these posts, I feel as if I am on my way down that path. St. Seraphim is an example I will be following. He was born in 1754 in the Russian Empire. His father took part in the construction of a Russian Orthodox Church closed to where he lived. When he was 19, he joined a monastery in Sarov and soon after he would build a log cabin in the woods and would live as a hermit. He stuck to a strict fasting diet and for three years would eat only grass. One legend recounts how he spent 1,000 nights in a row on a rock in continuous prayer. I do not think that a mystical life requires a feat like that, but I do think it is inspiring. Pretty soon, he would accept pilgrims coming to his cabin due to his reputation as a healer. He would address everyone who visited with respect and kindness. He would call everyone “my joy”. Seraphim is a great example of someone who devoted their entire life to God. His entire life revolved around the Lord and I think that’s something to aspire to. Not all of us have healing powers, not all of us can pray on a rock for years on end. But we can all engage with the mystery that’s all around us. We can choose to to see God in everything. Seraphim would treat everyone he came into contact with with upmost respect. God is in everything and everything deserves to be treated with respect.
Prayer: Lord, draw us all towards you. May we be nodes in your ever expanding network of love. Like Seraphim, may we greet all of our fellow creatures with love and respect. May we see the Divine mark that lies within all things. Amen.
January 1st, 2026: Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
Today celebrates both the naming of Jesus and His circumcision in accordance with Jewish tradition. What many people do not know is that Jesus actually comes from the same root as the name, Joshua. They both come from the Hebrew name, Yohosua. Which evolved into Yeshua, which further evolved into our modern Jesus. The name means YHWH is salvation. I think that for this New Year, we should remember that fact. God is salvation. He is our shelter from the storm. I for one have found that turning to God has helped heal my anxiety. We as Christians should trust in the Holy Name of Jesus. He is the basis of our faith, and He should be the center of our every action. Do we love our neighbor? Do we love our God? For the New Year, I want to try to examine every action I take and ask that very question.
Prayer: Lord, as the New Year begins, help us to reflect on the true meaning of Your name. You are our salvation, You are our guide, You are our friend and our brother. May you never abandon us in our hour of need. Amen.
“She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” - Matthew 1:21 NRSVUE
December 31st, 2025: New Year’s Eve
The saint for today is Pope Sylvester I, but Sylvester has a history of antisemitism. In addition to that, he is at least partly responsible for the Roman Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity. Constantine has had, in my opinion, a negative impact on the Church to say the least. So instead of talking about Sylvester, I will discuss my own spiritual growth this year. I started this year with a major loss that kind of shattered the way I related to myself and the world. I had to find a new way of looking at existence and I found it through my faith. It inspired me to start going to Church again for the first time in years. Focusing on God helped me to recenter my life in wake of everything being thrown off balance. But it wasn’t until I discovered the works of Fr. Richard Rohr, and his associates at the Center for Action and Contemplation, that I really fell in love with God. Fr. Richard is a Franciscan priest in the Catholic Church. He is also a prolific author and has written dozens of books and articles about his unique Franciscan theology. Franciscanism is a very mystical branch of Christianity that started with St. Francis of Assisi and has since spread beyond the Catholic Church. The core of it from my research seems to be the idea that God is in everything. Francis showed an undying love for everything around him. He referred to everything from animals, to the sun and moon, to death itself as “brother” or “sister”. God is in everything. He isn’t some distant figure who lives in the sky. He is beyond the bounds of space-time and yet intersects and inhabits everything within it. One of the most influential things I learned from Fr. Richard is his views on the Incarnation of Christ. He believes that the Big Bang is the first Incarnation of God in the universe. The first act of creation itself is also the first great act of Love. The second Incarnation is Jesus. The very essence of God distilled into a human being. Our job as Christians is to recognize Christ in everything we see, and love accordingly. This new way of finding Christ in everything unlocked a new way in viewing existence to me. I began to feel very much at peace with the event, and the other person it involved. As of right now, despite all of the misery and violence on this Earth, I feel like I am falling in love with the world. I feel ready and energized to do whatever small part I can to make the world a better place. This brand of Franciscan mysticism, Francisticism, is what I believe Christian practice should look like. We all have a duty to our fellow creatures, all of humanity and beyond. Everyone, and everything is sacred. After all, if God is in all things, who are we to decide who or what is or isn’t worthy of our love?
Prayer: Increase our love for the world, O Lord. May we rise to the occasion that the great crises of our time present. Help us to heal the world and repair all creation, your Image. Lord, in this new year, empty our hearts of all selfishness and evil. In it’s place, may there be an ever expanding fountain of love for the world around us. Amen.
December 30th, 2025: Feast of St. Frances Joseph-Gaudet
Christianity, in my opinion, should not be limited to the walls of the church building. The Gospel should not be restricted and kept imprisoned to a single day of the week. The Gospel should be lived constantly, and Christians should push to make this world a better place. Frances Joseph-Gaudet understood that. She was a seamstress who worked for prison and education reform at the turn of the 20th century. She held prayer meetings with black prisoners and did so much more to advocate for their well-being in the prison system. She would also attend juvenile court in New Orleans, where she would personally take responsibility for young black children who would be arrested for minuscule offenses. Later in 1902, she founded the Colored Normal and Industrial School after realizing she was running out of room for housing unhoused children in her own house. The school served as both an orphanage and as a boarding school specifically for children of working mothers. She would later donate the entire campus to the Episcopal Church, where she is venerated as a saint. She died in 1934. What inspires me about St. Frances is that she put her faith into action. She was not content keeping the Gospel stuffed up in Church or in a monastery. She actively used her faith to make the world a better place. She deserves to be venerated for her actions. She should serve as an example to all believers about what we can do to truly live out our faith. The Gospel is not something to be read every Sunday, it is something to be lived and practiced everywhere we are.
Prayer: Lord, help us to live out our faith and fight to make the world a better place. Give us the energy and zeal for improving lives that you gave to your servant, Frances. May we be beacons of hope in a dark and dreary world. Help us to spread the Gospel by our actions in bringing the Kingdom of God down to Earth, one seemingly small, but truly impactful, step at a time. Amen.
December 29th, 2025: Feast of St. Thomas Becket
One of the reasons I started this is to be exposed to figures in Christian history I did not know much about. Thomas Becket is the first of many who I am just learning about. Do not go into this thinking I am some expert or anything and I encourage everyone to read on their own about the people and holidays I talk about here. Thomas was made Archbishop of Canterbury (The highest position in the Church of England) in 1162. From the beginning, the king at the time, Henry II, began trying to interfere in Church business. When Thomas came out against his decisions, he fled to France for safety but eventually returned home to England. He continued being a thorn in the side of Henry II, and eventually, Thomas was murdered by the King’s men while in his cathedral. I think there are a few lessons we can take from St. Thomas Becket’s life. I think that it is incredibly harmful for the state to intervene in church affairs. The Kingdom of God is not of this world and shouldn’t be subject to petty worldly rulers. In an age where so many Christians seem to be loosing sight of that, perhaps we should take some inspiration from Thomas Becket’s martyrdom. We should stand against government interference in the business of religion. It corrupts and rots the Church from within and should be fought against tooth and nail. No state in the Church and no Church in the state.
Prayer: Lord, grant us the bravery and zeal for truth that you granted Thomas Becket centuries ago. May we defend our churches from the modern day King Henrys who seek to manipulate and bend the Church to their whims. They seek only power and have no holy intent in their hearts. May we always stand guard and protect the wall between Church and State. Amen.
December 28th, 2025: Childermas (Feast of the Holy Innocents)
There is a story in the Bible about how King Herod ordered the execution of all children 2 years old or younger in Bethlehem in an effort to eliminate the infant Jesus in his cradle. In the Church, they are known as the Holy Innocents, the first (if unwitting) Christian martyrs. There isn’t much historical evidence that this tragedy happened, but I don’t think that should erase the meaning of the story. I truly believe that children are the greatest evangelists among us. The Kingdom of God belongs to those with the hearts of children, as I have explained in a previous post. In a world so full of violence, cynicism, hatred, and fear, I believe it takes bravery to try to see the world through the lens of a child. ESPECIALLY with modern day social media, it is easier then ever to see the true horror that lurks in this world up close and personal. It seems like it’s becoming harder and harder to be a child. Children, being the most vulnerable humans, are most prone to the most horrific of crimes. This day should be a day to remember the millions of children who have suffered all their lives. But it should also be a day to celebrate our inner child. Adults need to embrace childhood. That doesn’t mean that you don’t grow up or be mature, but it does mean that you need to cultivate a sense of whimsy and awe when looking at the universe. If everyone is constantly morose and pessimistic about things, everything will get worse. You must see value in the World to save it. It is a freeing feeling, no longer must you worry about all of the many problems of the world. This is not to say you cannot face the horrors, more-so that you cannot let them consume you. Feel the light of the child within you and light up the darkness of the world!! Christmastide as a season is precisely for that purpose.
Prayer: O God, grant us the joy and innocence of a child. Help us to see our world with eyes full of whimsy, hope, and enthusiasm. Awaken the Kingdom of Heaven inside us, so that it may spread and grow. Help us to heal our broken world with boundless optimism, energy, and desire to do good. Amen.
“O sisters too, how may we do, For to preserve this day, This poor youngling for whom we sing, ‘Bye bye, lully, lullay’?” - The Coventry Carol
December 27th, 2025: St. John's Day
St. John is one of the most influential people in Christian history. Next to Paul, he is the most prolific writer in the New Testament (if you believe he is actually the author of all the books credited to him, which is disputed by some scholars). What I think is most inspiring about John is his devotion. He was the only one of the twelve to actually be present at the Crucifixion. He, along with Mary Magdalene and the Virgin Mary, were the ones who stayed with the Lord the longest on the cross. John 1 is an incredibly deep and beautiful chapter, as most of the Gospel of John is. It is clear whoever did write it was a deep thinker. The idea of the word of God being incarnated in the person of Jesus is so beautiful when you really think of it. Richard Rohr explains this much more in depth than I can at this point, which I will link below. But I want to take this day to reflect on that point. Christ is in all, the Word of God is everywhere. Doesn't that idea just make everything seem magical again? God is EVERYWHERE. He isn't confined to a church wall. He is not confined to the Pope. He is not even confined to any specific religion. He is everywhere, from the smallest neutrinos, to the biggest galactic super clusters. From the beggar on the street, to the man in the White House. From every young person wrestling with their faith, to Pope Leo. We are all touched and infused with Christ. John understood this, we all came into being through Christ. Knowing this, how could we look at the world with anything but wonder and joy!!
Prayer: Lord, may you infuse us with the holy awareness of Your ever-present nature. May You enable us to see the world as it truly is, as John did. Not a materialistic and random arrangement of physics and chemistry, but a beautiful mosaic. Bound together eternally by Your Love and Your Word. May we only seek to delve deeper into the love that unites us all. Amen.
"All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it." - John 1:3-5 NRSVUE
The Christification of the Universe - Fr. Richard Rohr
December 26th, 2025: St. Stephen's Day
So St. Stephen is a figure that most people don't think of too often which I think is a shame. He was one of the first deacons in Church history as described in the Acts of the Apostles. He was also the first Christian to be martyred for his faith. I feel like Christianity glorifies martyrdom too much. I think not giving up your faith even unto death is an honorable thing but I don't think it should be as glorified as it is. The feast day of a is typically the recorded day that the individual passed away. It seems to me that far too many people tend to focus on the deaths of martyrs rather then the lives they led. I personally think that Christianity should foster a life-preserving ethic. Martyrdom should of course be respected and honored. But so many people treat it as something that should be encouraged. I think that's kind of disturbing. We should be inspired by the lives of the saints, just as much, if not more then their deaths. We should be inspired by Stephen's life of service to his fellow Christians as a deacon. And by the bravery he showed up by standing by his faith.
Prayer: Lord, may we seek to serve more then be served just like our brother in faith, Stephen. Grant us the desire to help those around us, as well as the courage showed by Stephen at his death. May we always stand for our faith, and may we always seek to protect life wherever it is found. Amen.
"While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died" - Acts 7:59-60 NRSVUE
December 25th, 2025: Christmas Day
Merry Christmas!! While it isn’t known for sure when exactly Christ was born, in my opinion, that doesn’t really matter. We celebrate the coming of Christ in human form today. Christ is in and surrounds all creation. He unites all of us, and he draws us in towards Himself. To think that the Word of God himself would descend into humanity is so incredible to me. That is what Christianity is all about in my opinion. The Word of the Lord that binds the universe together, taking the form of a human for us to reflect off of and imitate. Christianity shouldn’t be (solely) about worshiping Jesus. It should be about following Him and imitating Him. That is the flaw with most of American Christianity. We are so focused on worshiping and not so much on the practical aspects of the faith. The Word of God incarnate tells us to forgive seventy times seven, He tells us to love our neighbor, He tells us to care for the poor and oppressed. But the best we can do is go to Church every Sunday. For the twelve days of Christmastide, let’s all rededicate ourselves to the true meaning of Christ. Peace on Earth, Good will for all.
Prayer: Guide our hearts to righteousness, Lord. Show us the Way of life and charity. As the sun begins to rise after the long winter, may we embody its life giving light. May we overcome all darkness and evil. And may we remember to celebrate and cherish the divine and cosmic love that binds us all together. Christ is born!! Amen.
“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” - Luke 2:14 NKJV
December 24th, 2025: Christmas Eve
Many people don’t know this, but Christmas Eve is actually also the feast day of Adam and Eve! I want to take just a minute of your time to focus on that. When most people think of Adam and Eve, they think of original sin. The idea that their actions doomed all of humanity. But this is not a universally held belief in Christianity. It is most prevalent in western Christianity (Catholicism and Protestantism). I think something that we in the west should focus on is what things were like before the so-called original sin. Before the Fruit was eaten, things existed in a state of original innocence. Adam and Eve had no knowledge of evil or shame. They had no desire to commit evil. It was a very childlike state of existence. I believe personally that the Christmas season should be about celebrating the childlike nature in all of us. I believe that in the World to Come, we (all of creation) will be restored to a state of childlike innocence. The wonder with which we viewed the world will return, and it will be so much better then we could possibly fathom. This Christmas, lets celebrate the inner child in all of us. I believe that the Kingdom of Heaven is accessible here and now to those of us willing to embrace our childlike wonder. Merry Christmas!!!!!!
Prayer: As we prepare to celebrate the coming of Christ, grant us, O God, the same spirit of faith, hope, and love, that we knew as children. In a world so full of evil and cynicism, may we, through our actions and words, shine the light of love onto the world. May we be free of hatred, bigotry, and despair. And may we be restorers of creation, one step at a time. Amen.
“Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” - Matthew 19:14 NRSVUE