The Other Brother

 AMDG I, a Catholic in the United States, to you, my unknown cosmopolitan reader. Grace and peace! This week I participate in our wonderful spiritual and secular tradition of thanksgiving. Nothing more and nothing less. I have had some wonderful trips and adventures this year. I am thankful for a Charismatic parish retreat last fall, the Encounter Conference in December (recommended), and the Jesuit ordination weekend this summer. For some major vacation-travel, some minor outings, as well as the local hikes and walks. For all the moments when I just sat on my porch or took a moment outside our daily mass chapel to take in the ordinary beauty of the day. I am thankful for all the fun events I attended with the Jesuit vocation team, friends, and coworkers. For hearing the birds sing. I thank God for the job I left and the ways it challenged me to grow. I am extremely grateful for my new job, for the work I do and for the ripple effects of a greatly improved work-life balance....

AMDG I, a creature in awe of Christ the King, fearful and loyal and enraptured, to you, my brothers and sisters carrying your crosses beside me in hope of the same glory. Today I relate two simple stories. Recently I got up the courage to talk to my pastor about having a vocation and being transgender. I had been putting it off for weeks, and finally got up the courage to send a text. (I find that texts are great for committing oneself despite fear.) Finally I stayed after daily mass and we had a brief chat. When I gave him my elevator-length story, he paused a moment before beginning to share his ideas and recommendations for how I might pursue my vocation to brotherhood. A good man! Not that long ago I also shared being transgender with one of my best friends, who I have known only a few years. She already knew I had entered discernment so it was easier to commit myself to an honest explanation of the result, yet I struggled more to find my tongue. Maybe because she is more patient, ...

AMDG  I, a slave of Christ, small by all measures and yet chosen by him for some mysterious end, to you, my sister or brother, who are chosen also for the glory of God. Grace and peace. We know that it is good to be open to the Spirit. Scripture is rife with examples of people who literally drop what they are doing to obey the prompting of the Spirit: Philip with the Ethiopian Eunuch comes to mind, as well as the calling of James and John. Many of the prophets, too. These exemplars point to a life lived moment to moment, not planning too much for the future because we wait expectantly on God, confident in his designs. Yet this is, for most of us, an extreme. Surely a lot of scheming went into the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the return of the Babylonian exiles; Paul must have employed his own mind in much of his mission work; etc. We make plans big and small without infringing upon the sovereignty of God. Ideally, our process includes prayer and our plans are open to the interve...