A Multitude of Ruptures
Fourth Sunday of Advent Luke 1:46-55 “A Christian’s authenticity is shown in the difficult hours…. And by difficult hour, I mean those circumstances in which following the gospel supposes a multitude...
View ArticleRebuke as Generous Invitation
In his book titled “The Beginning and the End of Religion,” Nicholas Lash invites us to look upon the world. “Summon up quietly,” he says, “with such clear-sighted courage as you can, all the...
View ArticleDarkness and Light, and My Son’s Need to Know Where the Bad People Go
Epiphany of the Lord Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:1-12 Matthew 2:1-12 Dallas, my current hometown, is full of huge churches with important pastors. The church where I serve is tiny by comparison, and...
View ArticleWhere in the World?
Pentecost Sunday Acts 2:1-21 Psalm 104:24-34, 35b Romans 8:14-17 John 14:8-17 (25-27) One of my prized possessions is a cassette recording of Thomas Merton lecturing his fellow monks at their Kentucky...
View ArticleHow Do You Sing the Lord’s Song?
Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost Lamentations 1:1-6 Psalm 137 2 Timothy 1:1-14 Luke 17:5-10 Funny enough – there ain’t a whole lot of communing going on in the...
View ArticleJunk-yard Dog
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Genesis 45:1-15 Psalm 133 Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 Matthew 15:10-28 “Junk-yard dog.” The first time he ever called her that, I bristled. Wish...
View ArticleLife Threatening
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost Exodus 3:1-15 Romans 12:9-21 Matthew 16:21-28 The news story reported that the injuries of the accident victims were “serious but not life threatening.” It struck me...
View ArticleForgiven to Forgive
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost Matthew 18:21-35 American culture has bastardized forgiveness into a self-serving tool. For proof, look no further than the Mayo Clinic website or a personal favorite,...
View ArticleThey Cried to the Lord
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Exodus 33:12-23 Psalm 99 I Thessalonians 1:1-10 Matthew 22:15-22 “They cried to the Lord, and the Lord answered them” (Psalm...
View ArticlePain and Hope
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost 1 Kings 19:1-15a Psalm 42 Galatians 3:23-29 Luke 8:26-39 Eternal God, lead me now out of the familiar setting of my doubts and fears, beyond my pride and my need to be...
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