Saturday, February 16, 2019 | Reflections
We repeat things for lots of reasons. We repeat things we simply cannot believe. And we repeat things that we cannot believe—but want to. In some translations of the evening psalm, “For his steadfast love endures for ever” is repeated in every single verse. During...
Friday, February 15, 2019 | Reflections
While running errands together last week, my daughter started talking about her college plans. She’s only four years old, so she doesn’t quite get the college experience yet, but she enjoys talking about it nonetheless. “I want to go to a college with lots of trees. I...
Thursday, February 14, 2019 | Reflections
There are many ways to interpret today’s gospel passage. One response is to become frustrated with the rich young man. This may not be the best way to approach the text, but it is certainly the easiest way for me.Is this man arrogant? Is he oblivious? Has he somehow...
Wednesday, February 13, 2019 | Reflections
I love your law. The more you read from Psalm 119, the bolder this statement becomes. The law is called sweeter than honey and more valuable than gold. I must confess to you: I feel a little dishonest reading this psalm. I don’t often think of God’s ways as...
Tuesday, February 12, 2019 | Reflections
Christian author C.S. Lewis tells of a man who is taken to heaven and granted a vision of a great woman. A glorious procession surrounds her, and music can be heard for miles around. She is unbearably beautiful, and a bright light shines forth from her. The man’s mind...
Monday, February 11, 2019 | Reflections
“I deserve that promotion more than Lucy,” we say to a coworker in the break room, only to tell the boss later that morning what a great fit Lucy is for her new role. The disciples are no different. I should sit at his right hand. No! It should be me!Jesus knows the...
Sunday, February 10, 2019 | Reflections
Evangelists are making a comeback—not just within the walls of the church but in our culture as well. Even companies seek to hire product evangelists to attend conferences, interact in online forums and social networks, and to otherwise represent the company or...
Saturday, February 9, 2019 | Reflections
Bear one another’s burdens. All carry their own loads. Which one is it? Every person for himself or herself, or we’re all in this together? What does Paul have in mind? Maybe Paul is saying, “Your burdens are my burdens.” In a very real sense, if I truly want to...
Friday, February 8, 2019 | Reflections
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”I think I get the point of the saying: try not to let words hurt your feelings. Be strong. That is helpful advice, but it isn’t very honest. In my experience, words hurt far worse than sticks and...
Thursday, February 7, 2019 | Reflections
When we think of freedom, we often picture a complete lack of restriction on our actions. We can do what we want, when we want to do it. In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he talks about a different kind of freedom. In the first verse of this chapter of Galatians,...
Wednesday, February 6, 2019 | Reflections
Mountains play a significant role in the story of God. Noah’s ark comes to rest on Mount Ararat, and Moses hears from God on Mount Sinai. Jesus delivers his most famous sermon on an unnamed mountain. There are good reasons for describing significant religious moments...
Tuesday, February 5, 2019 | Reflections
“No, Dada! I do it!” Part of growing up is learning to be independent. In the case of my children, they sometimes want to do things on their own before they are actually ready. When we read or listen to scripture, we are frequently confron….(View this reading...
Monday, February 4, 2019 | General Convention
[Episcopal News Service] Presiding Bishop Michael Curry told clergy in the Diocese of Florida Feb. 4 to work hard to stay in relationship with Bishop John Howard even if they disagree with his opposition to same-sex marriage. During a public conversation between Curry...
Monday, February 4, 2019 | Reflections
Paul greets each of his audiences throughout his New Testament epistles with the salutation of “grace and peace,” combining typical greetings of two cultures that comprise the early church. Grace (charis) is Paul’s play on the formal Greek greeting of chairein, while...
Sunday, February 3, 2019 | Reflections
In one of my daughter’s favorite books, the lead character usually ends up in trouble shortly after confidently proclaiming to the world how much she knows. “I KNOW how to do laundry, mom!” says Olivia the pig, moments before mixing her father’s white shirts with her...
