Faith Talk with Anita: Join Me on the Journey

As I record this Faith Talk, we are just a few days away from Ash Wednesday, so it’s time for me to make my Lenten plan. It’s important for me to plan my Lent because if I don’t, I tend to continue going through the days in my normal routine - stuck in my “Ordinary Time” mode. But Ash Wednesday calls us to pause, step away from “Ordinary Time” and enter the extraordinary liturgical season of Lent,...

This Faith Talk is a continuation of my previous episode ( The Overlapping Space Between Christianity and Buddhism ). In that episode I shared some common teachings by comparing the words of Jesus with those of Buddha. In this episode I continue the conversation by looking at some common practices, including meditation, prayer beads, chanting, and prayerful, or meditative, walking. Christianity an...

Part 1 of 2: In this Faith Talk I use the image of a Venn Diagram to compare common teachings and practices within Christianity and Buddhism. These two religions are each separate and unique entities with its own set of beliefs and practices, but they overlap just a bit to form a shared common space. It’s in that overlapping space that I see some important common teachings and practices, which I b...

In the first Creation story in Genesis, we are told that God created the universe and everything in it “in the beginning.” We assume the biblical author intended this to mean that God created everything (billions of years ago), finished the creation process, and then called creation complete – the end! But might we be so bold as to reinterpret the Creation story and expand our understanding of “th...

In this Faith Talk I touch on a few subjects including important upcoming liturgical dates, a few thoughts on the New Year, and an interview with a senior Vatican official in which he speaks about priest celibacy. I hope each of these “ingredients” in my Faith Potpourri are interesting and helpful for you. Please share this with anyone who might be interested.   Faith Talk with Anita You Tube vide...

Joy and Sorrow – two deep and powerful forces in life. How can we hold them together, in balance? Is it even humanly possible to do so? In this Faith Talk I reflect on that question after the death of my brother on Christmas Day. Please know this is a work in progress as I am still processing my experiences and trying to make sense of life. I pray it will help you on your faith journey.   Faith Ta...

In this Faith Talk I reflect on the bible readings for Christmas Day. In these readings we hear good news that can transform our lives if we but listen closely and take it to heart: 'Your savior comes…. A light to shine upon us…. Not because of any righteous deeds we have done but because of God’s mercy and love.' The question is, what will we do with this knowledge? Will this Christmas be...

In this episode I guide you through an Advent Meditation, or more precisely, an Advent Reflection, using a few of the main themes of Advent: waiting, expecting, hoping, and preparing. I hope it will help you prepare to celebrate Christmas with a deeper sense of joy, reverence, enthusiasm, and love, and truly welcome Emmanuel into your heart and home this Christmas season.   Faith Talk with Anita Y...

In this Faith Talk I continue my Advent reflection by contemplating the meaning of the great Feast of Christmas. The miracle of Christmas takes us on a journey beyond time and space. The birth of Jesus of Nazareth gives witness to the magnificence of God – who is beyond all limitations or boundaries. In this episode, I share an image that I hope will help expand your understanding of the great mys...

In my Advent Reflection for 2023, I share some general thoughts about Advent, including reflections on the gospel readings for the four Sundays in Advent. I also share some specific ideas to help you live a more purposeful Advent Season.   Faith Talk with Anita You Tube videos: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@FaithTalkWithAnita/videos   Follow me on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/faith_talk_with_...

Please join me in a guided meditation of gratitude. I hope it helps you relax during the hectic holiday season – or anytime that life seems overwhelming. It is short and simple, but I hope it leaves you feeling more relaxed, peaceful, and filled with gratitude. In the words of Meister Eckhart: “If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.” Faith Talk with Anita You Tube videos:...

This Faith Talk is all about making ‘gratitude to God’ the center of our Thanksgiving celebration. I share wisdom and inspiration from Scripture, and some fun and easy ideas for celebrating the day – decorations, games and activities, and the table prayer. I hope my ideas help you keep the ‘Thanks’ in Thanksgiving.    Faith Talk with Anita You Tube videos:  ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@FaithTalkWithA...

This Faith Talk is my reflection on the Psalms, the beautiful ancient Hebrew masterpieces of prayer. What I love most about the Psalms is that they give us words to say when we have no words – not only in times of joy and gratitude, but more importantly in time of grief, despair, and sorrow. This reflection is in response to a friend who asked for guidance on our use of the Psalms during times of...

In this Faith Talk I reflect on the notion of love with the help of Jesus’ 7 Love Messages (gospel passages are listed below) and Isaac Newton’s Third Law of Physics. I believe love to be an action word, a force if you will. And I believe that Jesus intended us to put our love into action. How do we do that? What might it look like? I will share a few examples. And just as in my last Faith Talk, I...

Today is a gift from God, to be sure! We must never take a single day for granted. We must live it to our greatest ability - and be grateful. In this Faith Talk, I reflect on the gift of this day. I also share a few things that I do to stay positive and thankful, even on my most difficult days. I hope they will be helpful for you. And because I am recording this Faith Talk during the Israel/Gaza w...

Do you believe Jesus when he says, “The Father and are one?” Can you also believe that YOU and the Father are one, as Jesus is, right here, right now?  And if you are one with the Father, what does that mean for the way you live your life? That is what I reflect on in this episode - with the help of Franciscan Sister and Theologian Ilia Delio and the writings of a few Christian mystics: Hildegard...

Our world can be harsh, dark, cold, and lonely. Certainly, there are times when all of us feel like our lives are out of control, when everything seems to be falling apart, when we can’t cope with the day-to-day happenings. When we just don’t know how to fix things and put our lives back together again. But there’s a light at the end of the dark tunnel of this world. Jesus, the “Wholemaker,” is he...

God said to Moses, “Remove the sandals from your feet for the place where you stand is holy ground.” In this Faith Talk, I reflect on the notion of sacred space. From the beginning of human life on earth, we have been identifying sacred space and setting it aside for worship. Sacred Space offers us a connection with God and a point of reference for making sense of our everyday world. What exactly...

Sitting with God is a solitary, unstructured, and personal form of prayer that anyone can do. There are no right words or correct actions. It is not tied to any one religion or denomination, and requires no adherence to any rules, doctrine, or dogma. All it takes is an intention to be with God and a bit of time. In this Faith Talk, I explain what “Sitting with God” is, and share how it works for m...

“Objects don’t have a soul, but they have great significance” (Erin Napier). A profound statement to be sure. What is it about holy relics that make them so powerful? What is the hold they have on us? Why do we feel the need to possess them? In this Faith Talk I reflect on just this – the power of sacred objects. I will share my thoughts about 3 holy objects in particular – Noah’s Ark, the Cup fro...

What comes to your mind when you hear the word devil or Satan? Did the biblical authors intend the devil to be understood as an actual, physical being? Or might they have been using the devil as a symbol or metaphor for the internal struggles all humans experience? What is evil and where does it come from? In this Faith Talk I will share my thoughts on the devil and the notion of evil. I will use...

Have you ever asked the question, “Why me, God?” Have you ever blamed God for the sorrows of life? If you have, rest assured, you are not alone. Humans have been struggling with the question of suffering since the dawn of time, and we’re still trying to unlock the mystery. The Book of Job tackled this age-old subject over 2500 years ago by focusing on the personal experiences of one man – Job. The...

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are our Superpowers! Freely and unconditionally given to us by God. It is up to us simply to accept and use them to the best of our ability. I believe it is precisely our acceptance and utilization of these gifts that gives meaning to our lives. And when that happens – the world begins to change. Please join me as I reflect on these powerful gifts: Wisdom, Understandin...

Why am I here? A crucial question to ponder, to be sure. Without some type of answer to this question, or at least a search for an answer, life can seem empty. If we don’t occasionally stop and contemplate life, we’ll find that we’re just going through the motions – surviving, but not truly living. In this episode, I invite you to pause and reflect deeply on YOU – the unique human being that you a...

In this episode I invite you to “sit with God” through intentional breathing. Scripture offers us the image of God’s breath as Spirit - giving us life and sustaining us. In Genesis chapter 2 we read that God blew the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, making him a living being. In the book of Job we hear, “The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty keeps me alive.” And in John’...