Mark Saucier
53 results total, viewing 21 - 40
The disciples, desperate for something more tangible than homespun allegories, asked Jesus to teach them to pray. I wonder what their reaction was when he gave them the “Our Father.” … more
The Hebrew Scriptures have many takes on aging and death. There is the story of Enoch, the great grandfather of Noah, who “walked with God, and he was no longer here, for God took … more
It’s the season of caps and gowns, big dreams and a beckoning future. Commencement speakers are advising graduates to go for the gold, dig deep and change the world. The diploma-ed … more
When we were taking care of our daughter’s kids for a few days, one of the things we had to do was to take our grandson to Taekwondo practice. I’ve been to a near-infinite number of … more
When we were taking care of our daughter’s kids for a few days, one of the things we had to do was to take our grandson to Taekwondo practice. I’ve been to a near-infinite number of … more
I had an appointment with my oncologist. I like him, but after five years, I’m ready to just run into him socially. This was supposed to be when he released me, when he took me to the door … more
A theologian I know is a bit of a provocateur — someone who will say some superficially radical things, just to get people to think more about their own experience. After one of his talks, a … more
Holy Week begins with an ironic scene. An itinerant preacher from the countryside is placed on a donkey, lauded with palm branches and hosana-ed by the crowd as their conquering king. The … more
Once a month, I meet a friend for breakfast. We’ve only known each other a few years, but there was an immediate bond that has deepened with time. We talk about news, sports, families, but … more
When I was a kid, Lent was the time for talk about sin. Perhaps it was in their teaching contract, but the good nuns invariably told us, in their own veiled words, about the seven … more
I caught the news before bed — a 7.8 earthquake rocked parts of Tukey and Syria. Headlines are filled with once-frightening words of epic storms, tornadoes, hurricanes and tsunamis. What … more
It was another silly question popping up in a wandering conversation. “What superpower would you like to have?” Avoiding the selfish fun things like invisibility or telepathy, it … more
It was a greedy, aggressive cancer. Not content to feast on his lungs, it metastasized, seeking total conquest of his body.  It seemed to win. We had his funeral yesterday: a royal … more
As many as 45% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions. As few as 8% keep them. (Most of these are skinny, self-driven perfectionists.) The past two years, the most popular (and … more
On Dec. 24, 1914, small Christmas trees and lanterns appeared on the parapets of the muddy Ger-man trenches of the western front. In the darkness, voices of scared and homesick young men joined in … more
It is an Advent story, though I didn’t realize it at the time. At first, I thought it was just about a man who had every reason to wonder what God was thinking. He was a Black man, born … more
Thanksgiving is a busy day. Hours in the kitchen preparing those favorite foods. Travel to make it home for that big meal, or multiple meals for many. There’s setting tables, doing … more
The day began with heavy clouds lingering after the night’s rain. I had a text from a friend whose husband has just begun hospice. She would let us know when they completed their visit, and … more
“What is the purpose of belief if even God can’t put the world back the way you worshipped it?” This is the question a character in Shubangi Swarup’s novel Latitudes of … more
It was early when I came downstairs. Just before I reached for the switch, something across the room caught my eye. There was a single patch of light. At first, I thought it was a message alert on … more
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