Fr. Jon Jordan

This must be the New Math everyone is talking about?

ChatGPT and tools like it are not the end of the world, but they do highlight a worrying trend: we have an increased appetite for seeking information over wisdom. In my opinion, the recovery of a better way begins with a rediscovery of the beauty of the Incarnation itself.

Quite soon, I shall find myself before the final judge of my life. Even though, as I look back on my long life, I can have great reason for fear and trembling, I am nonetheless of good cheer, for I trust firmly that the Lord is not only the just judge, but also the friend and brother who himself has already suffered for my shortcomings, and is thus also my advocate, my ‘Paraclete.’ In light of the hour of judgment, the grace of being a Christian becomes all the more clear to me. It grants me knowledge, and indeed friendship, with the judge of my life, and thus allows me to pass confidently through the dark door of death.

May you experience fear, trembling, and good cheer, Joseph of Rome.

Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei.

Merry Christmas from the Jordan family. (Shown here in both our forced and natural poses. I will let you determine which is which for each of us…)

The final week of Advent means it is time for the seven O Antiphons. I find these to be helpful antidotes to the business of the final week before Christmas. You can subscribe to Rhythms of Habit today to receive daily reflections on these antiphons between now and Christmas.

A lesson in governance as I navigate changing traffic signal timing for a light near our school:

The people I interact with in the city office are very helpful, from the Director to the phone operators. The processes they are tied to are mind-numbinly bad.

A full few days of putting up lights, a family hike, USA soccer, basketball, Bob Goff, and work on the playhouse.

I named our sunroom lights by their cardinal directions, not expecting political commentary gems like this one when routines don’t work as expected.

Are you in organizational leadership in any capacity? I’d love some advice.

What helps you:

• Make sure you personally spend your best time and energy on things that matter most. (Daily and weekly.)
• Keep track of the goals, growth, and needs of people you most directly oversee.

Advent is about preparation for judgement, and that is actually a good thing.

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light.

An under-appreciated mark of a truly great sports commentator: knowing when to say nothing.

Messi scored, and there was a 45 second period of commentary silence followed by a subtle, “It had to be him.”

Advent is coming. Time to set some intentions for this Holy New Year.

Oh no. It has happened. I tried to prevent it by asking reason to temper my expectations.

But mere hours before kickoff …

I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN.

USA is taking home the trophy.*

*or advancing to the Round of 16 and remaining competitive in their first knockout match.

I just finished reading Pillars of the Earth. It was published when I was four years old, but seems to have been written for me to read at this exact age (37).

Great books tend to feel like that, don’t they?

An unusally free Saturday means that I had a chance to make some good progress on the playhouse.

I am pretty sure the title “Queen of Christmas” is already taken.

Leaving Twitter is a small but important first step towards a healthier relationship with technology, your neighbor, and your self.

Not because of Musk, but because Big Social is shrinking our souls.

The final first-person verb of the Nicene Creed helps us remember that the Christian faith is more than mental affirmation of truth. It involves a shaping of hopes and desires.

• We believe (x4)
• We acknowledge (x1)
• We look for the resurrection of the dead …

All Souls Day is a helpful antidote to our death-anemic culture that oscillates between ignoring and overly-fearing this experience shared by all living creatures.

All Souls Day helps us to remember that thou art dust … and to look for the resurrection of the dead.

The farmer and the pig.