In the beatitudes Jesus pronounces blessings in the midst of the people gathered around him on the mount where he teaches. Blessed are you. Blessed are you when you hunger and thirst for righteousness, when you are a peacemaker, when you mourn. But you can hear that word “Blessed” as not a sign of God’s favor upon you, but more as a statement of God’s presence in your midst. God stands with the ones who […]
I am visiting St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Pawtucket Rhode Island this weekend. They have asked me to transfer the observance of the Feast of St. Luke’s to this Sunday morning. As such this week’s sermon is out of sequence from the appointed lectionary. The sermon for this week’s regularly appointed Gospel can be viewed here: “In whose image are we made, and what does it matter?” But by focusing on the Feast of St. […]
I am beginning this week’s sermon post with an explanation, and then an apology. I’ve not posted a sermon here in a few months. Originally it was because I was on vacation this past August, and then that vacation transitioned into a month of frantic activity that meant I just didn’t have time or resources to film a sermon. (House of Bishops, AI Theology Task Force, diocesan events and conferences etc.) I had a call […]
It’s August and that means the best part of the summer is upon us. (I’m a big fan of the latter part of summer.) I’m going to be off for much of this month, and otherwise occupied with some weekend events for the rest. Rather than recycle some old sermons, I’m going to just ask your forbearance for the next four weeks or so. I hope wherever you are, you’re going to get a chance […]
The parables point to a reality that must of us only experience tangentially. It's not surprising that they seem paradoxical - but the point of them is the pondering they invite.
Learning requires effort and living into a time of confusion. Spiritual growth, similarly, requires friction. The parables are the technology that Jesus uses to do just that.
There is more going on in Jesus' teaching than first meets the eye. It only becomes clear though after study and discipleship.
God isn’t scanning our credentials; God is asking who our friends are. Who do we recognize? Who do we receive? To who do we hand even a cup of cold water?
Ishmael is not a mistake to be cleaned up, he has his own destiny. We imagine that our story is the only one that matters. But that's not true for the God who made all Creation.
He called the nameless one, daughter, and he calls us by the same name.
