Monday, March 11, 2019 | Reflections
It’s been a rough winter. The world is troubled, and there are messages from friends dealing with difficulties—illnesses and deaths, family crises, disappointing changes—so much grief. I’ve been fighting colds and allergies and currently have pink eye. My...
Sunday, March 10, 2019 | Reflections
For many years we were members of a neighborhood church with a rapidly growing Afro-Caribbean population. With the influx of West Indian Anglicans, we needed to build a larger space for worship. Our rector sadly told us that the diocesan committee had refused our...
Saturday, March 9, 2019 | Reflections
The phrase “toxic masculinity” has become part of the conversation about forms of violence in our society. Toxic masculinity excuses bad behavior with the adage “Boys will be boys.” This approach isn’t helpful for any of us, boys or otherwise, especially when it...
Friday, March 8, 2019 | Reflections
I was named Mary for my father’s mother, and my middle name is Miller, my maternal grandmother’s maiden name. Until I was five or six, I was called Mary Miller—which I hated. Like a number of women of my generation, I took my husband’s last name when we...
Thursday, March 7, 2019 | Reflections
Most days I haven’t been out of bed very long before I catch sight of a headline on my phone or the front page of the newspaper and plunge headlong into fretting because of evildoers. This seems a particularly dark time in our country.Surely, we aren’t supposed to let...
Wednesday, March 6, 2019 | Reflections
Growing up Presbyterian, I don’t recall observing Ash Wednesday, much less fasting. As an adult Episcopalian, I decided that since gluttony is one of my more obvious sins, not eating on Ash Wednesday would be an appropriate discipline. For several years, I set dinner...
Tuesday, March 5, 2019 | Reflections
The scholars ponder: The DivineIndwells—or not? The bread and wine.Of God’s “real presence,” I’ve no doubt;my own, I’m not so sure about.Paying attention is not easy. In conversation, even with those dear to me, I often realize….(View this reading and more...
Monday, March 4, 2019 | Reflections
A group of us were hiking up a mountain trail, and the trail markings suddenly seemed confusing. We headed in one direction, then quickly retraced our steps. As we debated our options, a woman came up the path behind us. She was part of a group of volunteers...
Sunday, March 3, 2019 | Reflections
We sometimes see glimpses of transfiguration at a wedding, the birth of a child, or the celebration of some significant accomplishment. “She was glowing,” we say. “His face lit up.”What if we could see that light and recognize belovedness in every face?We live...
Saturday, March 2, 2019 | Reflections
Last week I organized receipts for all of last year’s charitable contributions as requested by our accountant. Some worry that the higher standard deduction will decrease financial giving to nonprofit institutions. But this concern raises an important question: Do we...
Friday, March 1, 2019 | Reflections
My heart sinks when I read this verse. Perfect? Me? Then I remember that I don’t think Jesus means being 100 percent error-free. The New English Bible’s translation of this verse says: “There must be no limit to your goodness, as your heavenly Father’s goodness knows...
Thursday, February 28, 2019 | Reflections
Among the many difficult tasks facing medical doctors is talking with patients about changes they need to make in order to become healthier. We do not like being told what to do, and we are easily offended. But good doctors care more about healing than they do about...
Wednesday, February 27, 2019 | Reflections
Jesus’ words about the need for reconciliation to take place before public worship are not unique. The prophets repeatedly call for true inward righteousness instead of merely outward expressions of worship. Paul repeats this same warning in 1 Corinthians 11. The...
Tuesday, February 26, 2019 | Reflections
The story of Ruth is one we need to hear today. We see virtue on display in Ruth, a Gentile refugee woman living the life of a widow in the ancient Near East. The love story we read about—not the one between Ruth and Boaz but one of family love—is centered on Ruth and...
Monday, February 25, 2019 | Reflections
The number twelve is important. The children of Israel are organized into twelve tribes. Jesus symbolically chooses twelve of his disciples to become the pillars in an emerging community of faith, but now only eleven are left. So the disciples find a few qualified...
