Author Archives: admin

on Principles and People

The burden of moral theology is to pose questions, and ascertain answers—considered, principled unravelings of the items quizzed. As fertile for the church such exercise can be, it is a logic, a study in abstraction, a piece of academia. While … Continue reading

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on John, Reflections on a Vision

I—A Gospel There took place at Cana in Galilee a wedding. The mother of Jesus was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited.  When the supply of wine was nearly depleted, Jesus’ mother said to him: “They … Continue reading

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The Serpent and the Symbol

Sacred texts and tales frequently tell of a serpent. The serpentine symbol carries varied understandings for it is the nature of a symbol to stand as portal to an unfathomable well of meaningfulness, the subconscious intimacy with the primal forces … Continue reading

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on the Virginity of Mary

Regarding the virginity of Mary, there are some who argue that this is a latter day notion, the result of a gospel reference to the prophet Isaiah wherein he claims a “young woman” in the royal household will give birth, … Continue reading

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In Defence of Christmas Stories

I once noted that there seems to be no part of holy writ so well defended from the pulpit as the story of the wandering Magi and the Christmas star. It seems also that every year my Christmas reflections are … Continue reading

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“Christmas comes again”

“Christmas comes again”—so begins one of my favourite songs of this festive season, perhaps the most convivial of times reserved for celebration, for gathering together in high-minded good will and good cheer. Yet, there are some who are perturbed by … Continue reading

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on Things Foreign–A Divertimento

There is this lesson given in the Chandogya Upanishad, a sacred text of Hinduism. “Just as a bird, tied to a string will fly around in all directions, and finding no resting place anywhere else, will resort to the very … Continue reading

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