Marcus Mescher
@mmescher.bsky.social
Catholic moral theologian focusing on solidarity, integral ecology, moral injury & repair
Today’s gospel is often domesticated, reduced to random acts of kindness or helping in an emergency. Jesus’ command to “Go and do likewise” is to emulate the Samaritan’s compassion, courage, and boundary-breaking solidarity in our own context. There is no “us” and “them” in God’s eyes. Just us.
July 13, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Today’s gospel is often domesticated, reduced to random acts of kindness or helping in an emergency. Jesus’ command to “Go and do likewise” is to emulate the Samaritan’s compassion, courage, and boundary-breaking solidarity in our own context. There is no “us” and “them” in God’s eyes. Just us.
#PopeFrancis brought humility and reform to the papacy. In word and action, he modeled a steadfast commitment to mercy, solidarity, and hope. In this Easter Season of new life, let us pray for him. And let us answer his call to radical love in service to those in greatest need and our common home.
April 21, 2025 at 11:22 AM
#PopeFrancis brought humility and reform to the papacy. In word and action, he modeled a steadfast commitment to mercy, solidarity, and hope. In this Easter Season of new life, let us pray for him. And let us answer his call to radical love in service to those in greatest need and our common home.
“Our persecution is nothing more nor less than sharing the destiny of the poor … if they kill me, I will resurrect in the Salvadoran people … may my blood be a seed of liberation.”
Let us remember St. Óscar Romero, killed while celebrating Mass 45 years ago today.
Let us remember St. Óscar Romero, killed while celebrating Mass 45 years ago today.
March 24, 2025 at 12:53 PM
“Our persecution is nothing more nor less than sharing the destiny of the poor … if they kill me, I will resurrect in the Salvadoran people … may my blood be a seed of liberation.”
Let us remember St. Óscar Romero, killed while celebrating Mass 45 years ago today.
Let us remember St. Óscar Romero, killed while celebrating Mass 45 years ago today.
A gift to be in Paisnal to commemorate the 48th anniversary of the murder of Fr. Rutillio Grande, S.J., and his companions, Nelson and Manuel. #presente
March 13, 2025 at 4:44 AM
A gift to be in Paisnal to commemorate the 48th anniversary of the murder of Fr. Rutillio Grande, S.J., and his companions, Nelson and Manuel. #presente
It was great fun talking about my @orbisbooks.bsky.social book, “The Ethics of Encounter,” at the University of Notre Dame. I loved the questions from students about how to apply Pope Francis’ culture of encounter and why we must keep expanding our imagination of what solidarity can make possible.
March 4, 2025 at 10:18 PM
It was great fun talking about my @orbisbooks.bsky.social book, “The Ethics of Encounter,” at the University of Notre Dame. I loved the questions from students about how to apply Pope Francis’ culture of encounter and why we must keep expanding our imagination of what solidarity can make possible.
Mary Oliver had it right:
Around me the trees stir in their leaves and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, “It's simple, they say,
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled with light,
and to shine.”
Around me the trees stir in their leaves and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, “It's simple, they say,
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled with light,
and to shine.”
December 9, 2024 at 3:10 PM
Mary Oliver had it right:
Around me the trees stir in their leaves and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, “It's simple, they say,
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled with light,
and to shine.”
Around me the trees stir in their leaves and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, “It's simple, they say,
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled with light,
and to shine.”
I went forest bathing and it was such a moving experience to use my senses and feel so deeply connected to nature, even in this late fall season when trees are bare, leaves are brown, and life seems to be retreating. The squirrels were still playing, the birds still singing, and I can carry on, too.
December 9, 2024 at 3:07 PM
I went forest bathing and it was such a moving experience to use my senses and feel so deeply connected to nature, even in this late fall season when trees are bare, leaves are brown, and life seems to be retreating. The squirrels were still playing, the birds still singing, and I can carry on, too.
I’m thankful to share my research on moral injury in Santiago, Chile. The conversations at Pontifical University, Alberto Hurtado, and Silva Henriquez have been invigorating. Building bonds across institutions (and continents) illustrates Greg Boyle’s claim, “it is the relationship that heals.”
November 21, 2024 at 6:27 PM
I’m thankful to share my research on moral injury in Santiago, Chile. The conversations at Pontifical University, Alberto Hurtado, and Silva Henriquez have been invigorating. Building bonds across institutions (and continents) illustrates Greg Boyle’s claim, “it is the relationship that heals.”
35 years ago today, soldiers trained on US soil killed six Jesuit priests, Elba (their cook), and Celina (Elba’s 15 year old daughter). We remember them and these words from Ignacio Ellacuría: “Christians and all those who hate injustice are obligated to fight it with every ounce of their strength…”
November 16, 2024 at 1:47 PM
35 years ago today, soldiers trained on US soil killed six Jesuit priests, Elba (their cook), and Celina (Elba’s 15 year old daughter). We remember them and these words from Ignacio Ellacuría: “Christians and all those who hate injustice are obligated to fight it with every ounce of their strength…”