Luke 24:13-35 Cleopas and Simon are heading to Emmaus. They have about two hours for one of the most important human experiences, a long walk with a good friend to figure things out. There is a flow to a good walk together. It begins with relief and gratitude of companionship. After Easter Jeanne and I took a … Continue reading Walking and Hoping With Jesus
“I will believe it when I see it.” How often have you spoken these words? When I was a supervisor for housing case managers, my job was to check up on their work through their case notes. My constant refrain was “If you did not write it down, it did not happen.” I’m at the … Continue reading What Are You Waiting For?
What was it like in Jerusalem on that day we now call Palm Sunday? Imagine -The energy level is intense as spiritual pilgrims flood into the city for the most holy Passover Festival. People jostle in packed markets hoping to get a sufficiently large and tender lamb. A vendor haggles with three customers to the … Continue reading How Do You Enter Jerusalem?
Here’s a great trick question to stump your Fundamentalist/Biblical literalist friends. When did Jesus go to the Temple and turn over the tables of the money changers? Most people will say “Palm Sunday” because three Gospels place the story there, but not John’s Gospel. He has Jesus in the Temple right here in the beginning … Continue reading Re-arranging the Holy Furniture
I do not like this story, but it must be told. It is the story of turning point in the ministry of Jesus, and it has great effect on any disciple who follows him. It is a crossroads moment, and something that we all face, often more than once in a lifetime. Suffering brings us … Continue reading “Great Suffering”
So Jesus is talking with Moses and Elijah, and I want to know what they were talking about? Was it like clergy meetings where stories are told of difficult people or theology is parsed and argued over? Were they bemoaning the challenges of people who say they are "spiritual but not religious," or wondering if … Continue reading “When the Light Breaks Out”
Sermon on Isaiah 40:21-31 Is the sky blue? Is the Pope Catholic? Why do people ask questions which they don’t expect to be answered? Sometimes a question can underscore the point better than the statement of a fact. For example: “How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?” The … Continue reading “Have You Not Heard, Grasshopper?”
Let’s talk about the donkey. I know Jesus is the big star of Palm Sunday (and every Sunday!) but supporting characters deserve their due. (After all, it was Gilligan’s Island, not Ginger’s Island.) I think this should be called Donkey Sunday rather than Palm Sunday. Here is my case. Tuesday morning I put all four … Continue reading Its All About the Donkey
You can lose a lot of things. You can lose your mind, your memory or your marbles. Your confidence, self-esteem or your mojo. You may lose your way, your place or you can even lose face; Your reputation, self-respect, manhood or virginity. You can lose sleep, time or your prime. You may also fail, suffer … Continue reading Necessary Losses
What binds you and keeps you from your deepest self? I can make a big list: Distractions, limited thinking about possibilities, self-deception about weaknesses, fear of failure, fear of success, despair, old failures, unresolved guilt, a sense of being powerless in a situation. It is a wonder a make any progress against these foes. And … Continue reading Lent 2018 “Hope in Our Captivity”
With all my soul 