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Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Galilean Fish Broil

BIBLICALLY BROILED FISH

This Lenten recipe comes from “A Continual Feast.”  Note the beautiful story of Jesus appearing to the apostles on the shore of Lake Tiberias and preparing fish for his apostles after his resurrection (John 21:5). Preparing and eating food together is one of the most basic and immediate ways of communicating our love, as Christ reminds us here.  While we do not have any recipes from the time of Christ, we do know what foods were available and used by the Jews of Palestine during his lifetime. This recipe uses that background for inspiration.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. of any fresh or defrosted fish; smaller fish or filets or steaks can be left whole while larger fish should be split
  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped or minced

    • Salt (to taste)
    • Olive oil
    • Red wine vinegar or lemon juice (see note below)
    • Lettuce
    • Greek or other strongly flavored olives
    • Optional: chopped fresh mint leaves

    Directions: Clean, rinse, and salt the fish. Rub with garlic, and brush with oil. Preheat the broiler. Place the fish in an oiled pan (you can add parchment or foil before oiling for easy cleanup). For smaller fish, broil fish about 3 inches from the flame (the higher rack) or about 5 inches (the lower rack) for larger fish. Split fish should be broiled skin side down. While cooking, base generously with olive oil and a little vinegar or lemon juice.

    When ready, remove the fish from the oven and serve on a bed of lettuce, surrounded by olives. Naan or pita bread would be a natural companion to the dish.


    The article and picture are from Aleteia freeskyline | Shutterstock | Altered by Aleteia


    Taking Correction


     Disingenuous may not be the exact word that I want, but it will give you the idea.  My granddaughter was told, by a teacher, today, that she didn't take correction well.

    How can one possibly respond?

    If you disagree, you are proving the accusation.  You aren't taking the correction very well.

    On the other hand, if you don't say anything, aren't you disproving the accusation?

    Tuesday, March 26, 2024

    The Pez Supper

     My granddaughter was playing with empty pez. I noticed the figure of Jesus.    


     
    What in the world was she doing?    

      She was playing that the pez were Jesus' apostles.  

    What's the catechism doing there?

    That was just handy--she needed a table.

    Oh!

    She reasoned that if artist can interpret Jesus' last supper, than so can she. 

    Monday, March 25, 2024

    How It Began

     Think about this.  The early Christians didn't think they were starting a new religion.  They were practicing Jews.  So, we'd be Jews too, if the early Christians weren't thrown out of the temples.

    The early Christians were adding the name of Jesus and using Messianic terms.  All four Gospels relate the Passover, to us Christians--the Last Supper.  The Last Supper was the first Mass. 

    Think of the couple on the road to Emmaus and Jesus joining them.  They don't know who He is.  As they walk, Jesus explains the Last Supper: Luke 24: 27-31.  Isn't this what we do at Mass?  Walk in, say a pray, sit and listen to the Scriptures, prepare a meal, eat it, clean up. pray, say our goodbyes. 

    Think of the Emmaus couple recognizing Jesus at their meal.  That's our realization of Jesus' True Presence, in the Eucharist--the bread and wine.  

    From early Christianity, that's how Christians recognized each other-sharing the meal.





    Sunday, March 24, 2024

    More is Less

     The Story of More by Hope Jahren is the result of the author's research about climate change, population growth, and energy use.  I found it interesting that Jahren, after her research, moved out of the USA.  She now lives in Norway.

    Our energy use is excessive and detrimental to our health.  We use the most, out of anyone else in the world.  We are endangering our planet.  

    Her facts may be arguable, but we are where we are.  There is no arguing that we're destroying the earth.  We are guilty. We are the ones to fix the problem.  Maybe we can't but we can slow down the inevitable destruction.  If we use less and share our excess, maybe Mother Nature will smile on us.





    Saturday, March 23, 2024

    Do What You Can.

     Oscar Romero was a martyred priest from South America.  No way could he have prayed this prayer.  He was dead.  It must have been written about him.

    God put you here, at this time, in this place.  Do what you can to make things better.

    A Prayer of Oscar Romero

    It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.
    The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
    it is even beyond our vision.
    We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction
    of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.
    Nothing we do is complete,
    which is a way of saying that the Kingdom always lies beyond us.
    No statement says all that could be said.
    No prayer fully expresses our faith.
    No confession brings perfection.
    No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
    No program accomplishes the Church’s mission.
    No set of goals and objectives includes everything.
    This is what we are about.
    We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
    We water seeds already planted,
    knowing that they hold future promise.
    We lay foundations that will need further development.
    We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities.
    We cannot do everything,
    and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.
    This enables us to do something,
    and to do it very well.
    It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way,
    an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.
    We may never see the end results,
    but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.
    We are workers, not master builders;
    ministers, not messiahs.
    We are prophets of a future that is not our own.

    Amen.


    Friday, March 22, 2024

    Thoroughbred

     Geraldine Brooks' book Horse is about a real race horse.  There are four main characters: Lexington, Jarrett, Jess, and Theo.

    Lexington was a horse and his trainer, Jarrett.  They grew up together and went through life, war, and blindness, together.  Jess is researching the skeleton of a horse, which turns out to be Lexington.  Theo is a PhD researcher, who comes across a painting of Lexington.  

    I found it interesting that Jess found out the reason why Lexington went blind.  Even in the painting, his eyes are opaque.  The horse must have had an abscess in his tooth, and it traveled to his optic nerve.  

    An important thread in the story is racism.  Jarrett is a slave and his life reflects that.  Jess is white and wonders where her relationship with Theo, who is Black, will lead.  It would spoil the story to tell you what happens to Jess and Theo, so you'll have to read it, yourself.  Sorry.

    You won't regret reading Horse.




    Galilean Fish Broil

    BIBLICALLY BROILED FISH This Lenten recipe comes from “A Continual Feast.”  Note the beautiful story of Jesus appearing to the apostles on t...