Posts by Ralph Patrick

“He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him.”  The Prophet Isaiah “Blessed are you when people revile you, and persecute you, and say all sorts of evil things against you for my sake.” Jesus “No one is born hating another person because of…

“Many people think excitement is happiness . . . But when you are excited, you are not peaceful.  True happiness is based on peace.” Thich Nhat Hanh “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you, not as the world gives.” Jesus Can there ever be peace?  How would you answer that question?…

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” What does it look like to have a pure heart? To me it looks like Jeff. I met him this week over coffee.  It was a work appointment. He was someone I needed to get to know in my new network. Jeff is a…

“What does God desire but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”   The Prophet Micah “I have always found that mercy bears richer fruit than justice.”  Abraham Lincoln “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”  Jesus “Kyrie Eleison.”  Two words repeated frequently in The Gospels. Two words that speak volumes. What do they…

“For a little while you must endure suffering.  This has come so that your faith—more precious than gold which is refined by fire—may be proven genuine.” The First Epistle of St. Peter, Chapter One “We prefer to let the accidental trash of life be consumed by suffering so that God may be glorified in everything…

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them.”  Matthew “Compassion is the virtue from which all other virtues flow.” Buddha “I’m so sorry.” “I’ll pray for you.” “My thoughts and prayers are with you.” “My heart goes out to you.” All of those expressions, and others like them, are quite common, especially among…

“This mystery . . . is Christ in you.” St. Paul Who are you?  If you were to meet someone for the first time and they asked you that question, how would you answer? Most people would respond according to what they do, where they work or live, or in the context of their relationship…

“Give no thought to the things of the past . . .” The Prophet Isaiah “Stop looking in the rearview mirror of life and keep your eyes on the path before you.”  Me There is a great line at the end of the movie “Wild” which is a depiction of the life journey of Cheryl…

“The upward gravity of love.”  Meister Eckhart “To reach more deeply toward the love of Christ within us and to manifest it more fully in the world constitutes the heart of the spiritual journey.” Thomas Keating[1] When have you received an invitation to love?  As you consider that question your thoughts might automatically be directed…

“In many ways I see that you are very religious.”  St. Paul at the Areopagus in Athens “Religion is the opiate of the masses.”  Karl Marx “I am spiritual, but not religious.”  How many times have you heard someone say that?  Perhaps you have said it yourself as a reaction against “organized religion” or an…