In summary, if God is the depth of existence, then religion is the confident search for this depth as well as the celebration of those events, persons or occasions where the depth has broken through the surface of our lives in an exceptional way. The test of whether we are religious or not is simply whether we are concerned with this dimension of depth.
- John Haught [20th C.], What is God? -

(What do you think of John Haught's definition of religion? How do you rate yourself in terms of the test he proposes?)

GN 17:1, 9-10, 15-22;    PS 128:1-5;    MT 8:1-4

R. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.

Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
Your children like olive plants
around your table.

Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.





The story of Peter in chains is an exciting one-the kind I liked to read in a children's' illustrated Bible* when I was a kid-good pictures, excitement, angels appearing, Peter sneaking away-an Indiana Jones kind of story.  It's got an evil monarch, a good guy, a magical occurrence, and an escape.

I think there are two lessons here:  First, God is  there for us, to lead us out of whatever captivity we're in (or have made for ourselves).  Second: Many times when we wish for escape--from bills, irksome people, events not to our liking, stress, you name it--it's not always as easy as it seems to happen to Peter; angels don't seem to magically appear, at least not the way it seems in the reading.  But we do have angels among us, the everyday kind of angels.  They are the nice guy who lets us go ahead at the gas station, the spouse who gives us an unexpected hug, the polite teenager at the grocery store, the administrative assistant who goes the extra mile, the student who tells you that you made a difference, or even the cat or dog who climbs into our lap on a tough day.  The are the angels that help us escape from the little captivities we find ourselves in and show us the every-moment goodness of the life we're given.  We need to tune in to these angels, and accept them for the gifts they are.

- by Bob Whipple

Selected Quotes from St. John of the Cross on the Journey of the Soul to God by Contemplation

- from Ascent of Mt. Carmel

Bk. 3. Ch. 14. #2. The communications of knowledge of the Creator are touches and spiritual feelings of union with God, the goal to which we are guiding the soul. The memory does not recall these through any form, image or figure that may have been impressed on the soul, for those touches and feelings of union with the Creator do not have any; it remembers them through the effect of light, love, delight and spiritual renewal, etc., produced in it.

- compiled by James and Tyra Arraj