Reflection for January 25, 2026

Good question, Carrie. Thanks for making me ponder a bit differently.

I find it comforting to read that “walking in faith, hope and love takes trust.” This is not always easy to do. Daily prayer with another caring person is important.

Thank you for your connections with St. Paul and our baptismal call. There are many ways we are each called to "Come Follow".

If I think of myself primarily as a 'spiritual being,' I might tend not to give much attention or care to 'earth' or to human beings as having real physical, mental, emotional, and social needs.

If I think of myself primarily as a 'human being,' my spirituality becomes more incarnational, and I realize and respect that the human person is, indeed, sacred, and that as humans, we are really all "One," being born in the flesh and dying in the flesh.

I think if Teilhard had been born in 1955 (and would now be 71), instead of dying in 1955, he would not be thinking of the either/or of the human-spiritual being. He would, instead, have developed that both-and perspective that has become so necessary in order for us to know and understand ourselves - and others - as holistic beings, beloved daughters and sons, sisters and brothers of One Creation.

The Holy Spirit makes each and every part of us 'holy.' Our arms, legs, eyes, ears, nose, voice, brain, mind, heart, soul ..... so there is no division of the whole, or the entirety of us as human beings. It is 'sin' that divides and separates; is is the Holy Spirit who makes whole.

I appreciate your observations and questions, Carrie. It gives us an opportunity to think - to ponder more deeply about "who" we really are, and why it matters that we do so.

The ancient wisdom of Socrates and Plato remains true: "The unexamined (unreflective) life is not worth living,"

Thank you, Carolyn, for the meaningful and prayerful reflection particularly the recall that we need to think of ourselves as spiritual beings. As you wrote, "walking in faith, hope and love takes TRUST" and it is the invitation for our journey.

Our “bright light”doesn’t blind us but shows us the way. I enjoyed your reflection this week.

Blessings always

When we remember who we truly are, our love flows gently and our presence suffices. Thank you, Sr. Carrie, for reminding us of our calling.