Midsummer is often a time for family vacations and leisurely coffee hours. It’s tempting to assume that the imperative of our Christian life can be relaxed a little bit while people settle into the welcome routines of rest, recreation, and travel. But this week’s Gospel reading sizzles and spits like a hamburger on a backyard…
I suspect that, to most of us, prayer is a puzzle. I’m not sure that most of us even know why it is that we pray. Many people pray as a form of sanctified wish fulfillment. It’s like we think of prayer as a way of having all our dreams come true… if we pray…
Today’s Gospel story often attracts interest because it is one of a limited number of stories that offer an obvious integration of women in the participation of all facets of Christian discipleship. A woman sits and learns at Jesus’ feet — possibly in the process breaking down cultural expectations — and Jesus approves. This implies…
In Matthew, when Jesus is approached by the rich young ruler who asks, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” the answer Jesus gives is pretty stunning: “Keep the commandments: You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and…
“Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’” (Lk 10:5) May peace be among us and remain with us. Amen. It seems like whenever we turn on the news lately, we hear of some massacre. And those are just the tragedies that make the news. There are others that don’t make the headlines,…
What’s God been doing in your life lately? Today’s readings were a struggle for me as I tried to come up with a sermon response. I tried and tried to get them to fit together into a sermon that made sense to me as a unit that would inspire us all to action based upon…
In just a few short weeks, many of us will stand and sing that we live in “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” Our patriotic celebrations are just around the corner. But I struggle to say that most of us in our little corner of the world are “free”. People…
Did you notice the oddities of today’s readings? A most unusual character steps forth as we listen to the words of scripture — so unusual that no one seems to be able to explain who (or even what) she is — except that she is definitely a she, this woman called “Wisdom”. Some authors note…
What is the good news of Pentecost? I have no doubt that today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles will take center stage at most pulpits on today’s celebration of Pentecost, but I’d like to diverge from the easy path. Today’s gospel reading from John challenges us to think about how it is that…
Sorrow. Disbelief. Shock. Anger. Confusion. Deep, inconsolable mourning. And a sense of being on repeat. Our nation was once again rocked by an act of evil that everyone dreads to hear – the senseless killing of lives by a soul killing defenseless children and teachers in a rampage of rage. Why? How can such violence…
Over the past week, I think that many of you may have learned of a new, or rarely used term: food desert. It’s used to describe “an urban area in which it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food.” This doesn’t mean that food is scarce – it means that healthy, unprepared, fresh…
I’m going to warn you now that I will probably ask more questions in this sermon than you’re used to. Questions that cut right to the root of our faith. Questions that may make you uncomfortable. Questions that we need to ask. Questions that each of us needs to answer for ourselves. “For God so…
