Saturday, August 24, 2019 | Reflections
Bad things happen to good people. And yet, the Lord is our refuge and our habitation and we are under God’s protection. We must hold these two conflicting facts in tension. Bartholomew is a good companion in this hard task of faith in part because very li….(View...
Friday, August 23, 2019 | Reflections
Herod the Great built Caesarea Maritima on the Mediterranean coast—a fancy summer home with breezes and access to sea. The ruins of this harbor city are still there: the commercial port, theater, aqueduct, and the palace of the Roman procurator, which was at one point...
Thursday, August 22, 2019 | Reflections
All our lessons today burst with intrigue. There is trouble in David’s court, and Absalom has just been killed. Paul’s imprisonment continues, and the plot thickens. In Mark, Jesus is wrapping up a fraught debate session with those wily priests and scribes....
Wednesday, August 21, 2019 | Reflections
One of the beautiful things about the Daily Office Lectionary and its guide to reading through scripture is the opportunity to read the psalms in quantity. Reading them this way is a bit like reading an epic, generational novel. The whole human experience is there:...
Tuesday, August 20, 2019 | Reflections
My first memory of this verse is from a nineteenth-century primitive chapel. Behind the altar is a massive plate-glass window, which overlooks miles and miles of the ancient Ozark Mountains. Carved above the window is the inscription: I will lift up mine eyes unto the...
Monday, August 19, 2019 | Reflections
I just love this story, which is euphemistically referred to as “The Cleansing of the Temple.” How are we to understand what’s going on here? Through the interpretive lens of two millennia, we figure Jesus has every reason for his unexpected actions and that the...
Sunday, August 18, 2019 | Reflections
The entire twelfth chapter of the letter to the Hebrews is a great love letter to the forerunners of our faith. These ancestral heroes endured suffering, fought mightily, and persevered in the faith. Therefore, we must remember on whose shoulders we stand and have the...
Saturday, August 17, 2019 | Reflections
Paul is a problematic character. Many people of faith, biblical scholars, and even casual Bible readers have a hard time with him and some of the teachings ascribed to him. But never mind that. We may argue about the Apostle Paul but what do we do with...
Friday, August 16, 2019 | Reflections
Even those who don’t know the Bible or practice the faith talk about “the road to Damascus” as a place of great epiphany or change of heart. Saul, a devout and dedicated Jew, has been rounding up followers of Christ in an attempt to eradicate what he ….(View...
Thursday, August 15, 2019 | Reflections
In her appearances to the faithful over the millennia, Mary always comes dressed as a local. At the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, enormous mosaics from 43 countries honor Our Lady. In each picture, she bears the physical characteristics of the contributing...
Wednesday, August 14, 2019 | Reflections
When my spouse retired, we simplified a lot of things about our life. As we downsized, we had to make decisions about every single item we owned. This exercise got easier as we went along and ultimately resulted in lighter spirits and a more nimble life. It’s not...
Tuesday, August 13, 2019 | Reflections
The crowds, the Pharisees, the disciples, the parents, the children—everybody wants something from Jesus. The crowds want teachings and healings. The Pharisees want to trap Jesus. The disciples want Jesus to themselves. The parents seek a blessing for their children....
Monday, August 12, 2019 | Reflections
Today’s lessons are not the kinds of scripture passages we cross stitch on pillows. We don’t get to select only the bits of the Bible we want to spend time with, like picking out the pretzels from the party mix. Christians believe the Bible to be the Word of God,...
Sunday, August 11, 2019 | Reflections
There are different estimates of exactly how many times Jesus speaks some variation of “Do not be afraid.” No matter the number, the recurring message is clear: Do not be afraid. Life is a creative process. The tools we might need as we make ou….(View this...
Saturday, August 10, 2019 | Reflections
There is a high level of stress and disorder in our gospel passage. Jesus tells his friends—for the second time—about his impending death and resurrection. They don’t understand, as usual. Despite seeing Jesus’ wondrous powers, despite walking and talking with Jesus...
