We are so used to thinking of Jesus as the merciful one, the reconciler, the peacemaker, the forgiver of sins, the one who turns the other cheek. And yet the church also remembers Jesus talking this contrary way: talking of division, talking of violence, talking of bringing fire.
Read MoreI am so grateful to be home. I cannot express the amazing joy I feel deep inside to be home and to call this place of such beauty and gift, home. For me, part of that ‘knowledge, a feeling, an assurance that even in the midst of that pain or doubt or suffering, God is good’ is in being so privileged as to live in a place that calls to many, many, people from all around the country and even the world to come and explore, walk through or journey through.
Read MoreI'm referring to the fact that we are born into a world of infinite dimensions, only three of which we are able to see clearly. A fourth we can recognize only in sequence as we observe living things growing and declining through time. Yet we are constantly bombarded with intuitions of higher truths that can't be proven, and often seem counter to our own self-interest. It's as though we are born blindfolded and spun around a few times, and then turned loose to grope for some kind of handhold on ultimate Reality.
Read MoreWe think that this morning’s gospel reading is about a good Samaritan, a despised figure in ancient Israelite culture, and about a stretching of the word “neighbor” to include anyone encountered in need. And, of course, it is that, though not merely that, nor even mainly that, if for no other reason than that the Samaritan, who serves as an example of what it means to be a neighbor, is a fictional character, just as the robbers, the beaten up man, the priest and the Levite are all fictional characters created by Jesus to help a lawyer learn what it means to live a human life under God.
Read MoreWho are your modern-day models of apostles and prophets? Are they your parents? Your spouse? Your family? Your teacher? Your priest? Your supervisor at work? Your children?
Read MoreThe choices of scripture themes this week are many and varied. I, like my friend Kate Huey, spent most of this week focused the theme of call, God’s call to each and every one of us to become God’s prophets of love and great hospitality through acting on another’s behalf and not judgement.
Read More“I have found you,” says the prophet Elijah to Ahab the KIng. “I have found you.” It’s a dreadful thing to be found by a prophet, a dreadful thing to hear the voice of a prophet, whether that voice comes from another or whether it’s an inner voice whispered into our ear ...
Read MoreAt Pentecost, I offered a message that was about the discernment of whether the Pentecost miracle was a miracle of the ear or a miracle of the tongue. With the help of my friend and theologian Eric Law, it was determined to be both, and more often than not, I am drawn to opportunities that express the miracle of the ear.
Read MoreAs per usual, I open with a meditation, and then this week, I offer a prayer through song, also a message about our hunger for control and power which is inspired by Richard Rohr, blended in is a reflection on the scriptures and then, finally, an entreaty from some of our Bishops.
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