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As I was giving some, surely, helpful advice to our oldest daughter as she was organizing her kitchen after her recent move, I got a bit of a reality check as I watched her--she has done this before and actually knows what she is doing. It is always a bit of a shock to my system when I realize our adult kids know what they are doing. Why this is surprising at times, I don't know. We have spent their lifetime pouring everything we know into them--and everything we think they might need to know. I love it when I can see that they actually absorbed some of our wisdom, but it is especially a joy when I see they have acquired their own wisdom and gone beyond what we could teach them. As we think about freedom today, we know that the freedoms we have right here in the United States, are plenty, and we have many people to thank for us having them, and being able to keep them. And while it is easy to take our daughter's move for granted--and her ability to have a good job, choose a ...

I like being an American. There. I've said it. I like living in a country where freedom of speech is part of our heritage. And where freedom of expression extends even to folks whose ideas aren't approved by The Establishment's current iteration. Usually.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (A quick look at America over the last century: good times, droughts, politics; and getting through anyway. Why being a good citizen matters: to me, anyway.)

When we were a (relatively) young married couple (without a lot of liquid assets) it seems that for a few years in a row, every Christmas was accompanied by a $1,000 car repair bill.  It was frustrating, to say the least, but eventually, I came to accept that if you have a car, you are either going to have repair bills or a car payment, so I gradually learned not to sweat about either.  (On a side note, my mom used to say, jokingly, "You either have kids or money, but not both" ha ha) I had a boss, years ago, who was a Chapter 13 Trustee lawyer (William W. Wumkes) who did not own a car.  He walked everywhere, took a taxi or enlisted a friend.  Now there was a man who didn't worry about car repairs or monthly payments! I thought of my early days of fussing over this stuff and where I am today, and I realized that I have learned a lot about acceptance.  Once I realized that I could do absolutely nothing in terms of avoiding car repairs, I just accepte...

  Cup of Water and a Rose on a Silver Plate Francisco de Zurbarán [ Web Gallery of Art ] Whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward  (Matthew 10:42; Gospel). Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Matthew 10:37-42  ( English Standard Version Anglicised, India) Jesus said to the Twelve: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.   And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.   Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.   The one who receives a prophet becau...

  The video above, with yours truly speaking, was posted last week on the website of the Missionary Society of St Columban in Ireland under the title  Elderly Columban Missionaries Say 'Thanks'! Most of us Columban priests living here in St Columban's, Dalgan Park, Navan, are officially retired, though some of us are still active in various kinds of pastoral work. There are more than sixty of us here, most of us in our 70s, 80s and 90s. When I entered what was then our seminary here in 1961 there were more than 190 studying for the priesthood, spread over seven years.  Please continue at Bangor to Bobbio .

    I hope you will take the time to read this post about weakness today on Facebook. If you are looking for more posts, please follow me on my page at https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/ I update my blog at janetcassidy.com about once or twice a week, so be sure to check it out! Have a blessed day! Janet Cassidy

(Breakfast cereal: wholesome, nutritious, and normally not radioactive. Ads from ca. 1900, left; 1906, right.) I'd prefer living in an America where doctors never used kids as lab animals, and "feeble-minded" folks who were already locked up were not feared by the powers that be. But I live in a very real America. We had problems in my youth. We still do. This is not a perfect country, but on the whole I like being an American: and appreciate living in a country where we are allowed to learn about — and from — our past mistakes. This week I'm talking about the time a giant of the food industry and a prestigious university dosed kids with radioactive breakfast cereal. I am not making that up. Looking Back at Fernald State School and a "Science Club" Science and Cereal Zombies and Mutants, Radon and the Minnesota Department of Health Good News, Bad News and Flexible Ethics "A Disappointing Type of Feeling", "'This is...

  I was talking to a dear friend of mine and she made the suggestion that I write about hypocrisy and how it seriously turns off young people. This is not a particular religious denomination's problem (she's not Catholic), but more of a human problem.   We both agreed and totally understand that as Christians, we are sinners and we live and act imperfectly, but we do try to do our best. Young adults today, however, spot hypocrisy in church people a mile away and are very turned off by it . . .   Please continue reading on my Facebook page at:  https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/  I hope you will follow me there so you don't miss a post! God bless, Janet Cassidy janetcassidy.com

  Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Matthew 10:26-33  ( English Standard Version Anglicised, India) Jesus said to the Twelve: So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.   What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.   And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.   Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? [ b ]  And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.   But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.   Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.   So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Fa...

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      Yup, as you can tell by the picture, I'm a genius! I'd like to brag about getting Wordle on one guess, but then I'd probably make you feel bad that you haven't been able to do it yourself. Bet you didn't think I was so smart, did you? "Hmm", you're probably wondering, "How on earth did Janet get Wordle in one try? I guess she must have, because she even provided proof! Yes, indeed, she must be amazing!" I'll tell you my secret if you keep reading and follow my Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/ Janet Cassidy BLOG: janetcassidy.com

  I was reflecting on Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians (5:14-21) and I had a thought.   This section is about reconciliation.  God has reconciled us to himself through Jesus, "entrusting to us the message of reconciliation . . . so we are ambassadors for Christ . . ." Uh oh. It seems that ambassadors for Christ who are entrusted with a message of reconciliation, need to be reconciled themselves in order to effectively lead others.  I would like to talk a little about what reconciliation is, and what weaponizing it looks like (which is never a good thing.) By way of explanation, the Sacrament of Reconciliation itself--which baptized Catholics enjoy--is an opportunity to take our sins to God and seek forgiveness.  In doing this, there is the assumption that we are sorry for our sins and believe in God's mercy which brings about reconciliation through the ministry of the priesthood. I know that is a mouthful, but stay with me . . . The dang...

  The Harvest (Breton Landscape) Émile Bernard [ Web Gallery of Art ] The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few;   therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest  (Matthew 9:37-38; Gospel). Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Matthew 9:36-10:8  ( English Standard Version Anglicised, India) When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.   Then he said to his disciples,  “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few;   therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.” And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and ever...

It's been two and a half weeks since NASA's "Public Meeting on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena", aired on YouTube. Or is that streamed on YouTube? Never mind. The NASA panelists did not announce contact with an extraterrestrial diplomat, or admit that they've been holding space aliens captive. So some of the folks who were contributing to the video's live chat were profoundly disappointed. The panelists did, however, discuss what Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) means, how they'll be collecting and analyzing data, and answered some questions. Ideally, I'd have listened to all four hours of the meeting, pondered its content, and would now be sharing the highlights. That didn't happen. But I did catch bits and pieces of the video: mostly during the last hour. So I'll be talking about that today, focusing on a former pilot and astronaut's experience: along with flying saucers, ball lightning and (very briefly) space aliens....

I was developing a bit of an attitude the other night because I was tired, my feet were sore, and there was still watering to do.  As I dragged myself, and the hose, back to the garden, I stood there soaking in all of the bird chatter, the soft breeze and one particular robin. Just being back in the garden worked on my sour mood, but especially because I thought about St. Francis of Assisi and his connection to animals.  One beautiful robin bounced right up near the plot that I was watering, ducking under and out of the developing tiger lilies.  This little bird was in no way afraid of me.  We were so close, it was like we connected.  I sprinkled a little water for him and watched the little dance that ensued.  Before I knew it, another robin decided to check us out. Between St. Francis and the robins, I returned to a peaceful state and forgot about my sore feet.  Peacefulness doesn't mean that your aches and pains disappear.  It's ju...

When I started writing this, I'd planned on talking about WASP-18 b, a hot Jupiter: how we've found water in its atmosphere, and something odd about the planet's temperature on the edge of its sunlit side. Down the Rabbit Hole: Exoplanet Designations and Cosmic Scale Astronomical Designations: A Discursive Digression First Known Exoplanets A Circumbinary Planet’s (allegedly) Impractical and Unworkable Designation Exoplanet Designations: A Work in Progress Designations and Alphanumeric Alternatives: a Hypothetical Hodgepodge “People Also Ask”: Strange Worlds and Cosmic Scale WASP-18 b: Discovering Something Odd This WASP World’s Winds: Weirdly Warped? Over-the-Top Winds on WASP-18 b? Living in Vastness More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Odd worlds and cosmic scale. WASP-12 b, WASP-17 b, WASP-18 b. Not-quite-standardized exoplanet designations. Something strange about WASP-18 b.)

Institution of the Eucharist Blessed Fra Angelico [ Web Gallery of Art ] The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?   Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread  (1 Corinthians 10:16-17; Second Reading).   Corpus Christi Sunday, Year A The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Year A  In most countries this solemnity, formerly celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, is now observed on the Sunday after Trinity Sunday, this year replacing the Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.   Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   John 6:51-58 ( English Standard Version Anglicised, India) Jesus said to the crowd: I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live for ever. And the bread that I will give...

If you are enjoying my blog posts, I would like to encourage you to join me on my Facebook page.  You can find my daily postings on a variety of topics at:  https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/ Thank you for reading my posts! Janet Cassidy janetcassidy.com

    Have you ever observed fellow Christians judging each other? Good, devout people, running others down because they practice their faith differently?    Maybe you have heard things like:     "Those people just don't get it."  "Where did they get THAT idea?  That's ridiculous!"  "They're not acting very Christ-like."  "Why aren't they doing more?"    On and on the condemnations go. I have little patience for this sort of thing.   I was thinking about this last Sunday when I heard this reading proclaimed at Mass. It comes, in part, from the famous passage from the Gospel of John, Chapter 3, Verse 16-18:   "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God."   Two things ...