This past week, Pope Leo XIV bestowed a blessing on a chipped and half-broken statue of Mary, the mother of Jesus, which changed the life of the man who found it. Pope Leo bestowed upon it the title, “Our Lady…
Mary and the long work of God
Advent teaches us how to live inside a promise that hasn’t yet finished unfolding. The light is thinner. The nights arrive early. We find ourselves listening more carefully, because certainty has loosened its grip. Scripture doesn’t rush to resolve this…
Letters to Mary: Women have creative power
Advent shows us something about power that the palace always forgets. Real strength doesn’t powder its face with contempt. The authority that spoke galaxies into being entered the world through a woman’s body and trusted her to say yes. — Derek…
Letters to Mary: Women cannot be controlled
“Freeing yourself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another.” — Toni Morrison Dear Mary, Mother, I grow weary this Advent season; this is a weary world longing to rejoice as the carol sings. I miss the…
A less than Christian nation?
And Mary said: God’s name is Holy, his mercy sure from generation to generation toward those who fear him; the deeds his own right arm has done disclose his might: the arrogant of heart and mind God has routed, He…
Mary the wild rose
This is the irrational season when love blooms bright and wild. Had Mary been filled with reason there’d have been no room for the child. — Madeline L’Engle I am not one of those women who loved being pregnant. Personally,…
Mary the thorny rose
“Life doesn’t come with a manual, it comes with a mother.” — Cleophus (Cleo) Franklin Jr. Not too long ago my family and I were sitting in a booth at a local restaurant waiting for our food to arrive. I…
Mary the rose garden
In the classic children’s book The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, a grieving father locks away the garden of his dead wife, forbids mention of it and hides all affection and beauty from his sickly son who he locks…
Mary the rosebud
Each time a new baby was born, a single red rosebud was placed on the altar in the sanctuary of my home church. My youngest child was born after I returned to serve there, and 12 years ago, her red…
Improvising Grace: Reformation and dissent
Author’s note: On Oct. 22, I was privileged to preach at a convocation celebrating the 25th anniversary of the School of Divinity at Wake Forest University. I pass it along in this Reformation week. …
Baptists are body and blood related to Mary Magdalene
Baptists have made plenty of mistakes in how we regard women. Women have just begun to take a full stride as pastors in many of our networks and denominations, while the Southern Baptists still disallow women to serve as pastors….
The blood of Advent
This is the first in a four-part series of Advent reflections by Julia Goldie Day that will run on Mondays. Ever hear the phrase, “Behind every successful man, there is a woman?” Jesus is the successful man; Mary is…