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Category Archives: lectionary reflection
On the sabbath, he went to the synagogue
It was the sabbath, so she went to the synagogue. I wonder how many people’s stories began that way last weekend, before the worship of the Jewish people was interrupted yet again by violence. It should be as safe as we feel coming to church. It should be as easy and as natural as the scripture makes it sound: it was Saturday, so he went to synagogue. Continue reading
Posted in current events, lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged antisemitism, conspiracy theories, Jesus, Luke 4:14-21, synagogue
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Working on a miracle
Some say that the next wars will be fought not over oil but over water; but it doesn’t have to be that way. When one runs short, it is all of our business. There is no, “What is that to me?” Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged Amos 5:24, John 2:1-11, Psalm 36:7-8, the work is not yet done, wedding at Cana
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The gifts of the wise ones
The Feast of the Epiphany is a new year of sorts for us, the people of Epiphany. Who knows what this one will bring. But if we are able to keep our hearts and minds and expectations open; if we deploy the gifts of humility, creativity, faith that the magi, the wise ones have taught us, then we may find unexpected grace, unlooked-for epiphanies, the glory of God waiting for us to stumble upon it as the year takes shape, growing like a child, full of curiosity, wonder, and delight. Continue reading
Posted in holy days, lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged creativity, Epiphany, faith, gifts, humility, magi, three kings, wise men
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Joseph, the dreamers
With the eyes of his heart enlightened, Joseph knew how to pay attention to the whispers of God, how to be guided by love, how to risk giving everything up, giving everything to the project of God’s incarnation as the Christ. Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged Joseph, Matthew 2, open hearts, refugees
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It’s (not too) complicated
It means beating swords into ploughshares, guns into shovels, removing them from the hands and the lives and the deaths of our children. There is no deeper shadow cast than the deaths of children, and the enormity of the problem before us is our mountain to climb. Continue reading
Posted in advent meditations, lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged Advent 2, gun violence, mustard seed faith, prophets
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For All Saints and All Souls
He has dwelt with us as our God; we are his people,
and God is with us; and as surely as Jesus wept for his own friend,
he will one day wipe every tear from our eyes. (after Revelation 21:1-6) Continue reading
Posted in holy days, homily, lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged grief, John 11:32-44, Resurrection, Revelation 21:1-6
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Follow
The man in the story is caught on the cusp of conversion, teetering on the brink of repentance, swaying toward Jesus but anchored by the lifestyle he has always known, the way it has always been. Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged Amos, church, Jesus, Mark 10:17-31, Year B Proper 23
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To become whole
A sermon for the service of Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost, including the Blessing of the Animals, at the Church of the Epiphany, Euclid, Ohio. Readings include Genesis 2:18-24 I heard not long ago of someone in this developed and modern … Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged animal blessing, creation, equality, gender expression, marriage, marriage equality
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Envy is the enemy of the gospel
A sermon for Sunday, September 26 at the Church of the Epiphany, Euclid. In the readings, disciples of Moses and Jesus object to unauthorized deployment of the Spirit. In the news, images of border patrols chasing immigrants with horses, and … Continue reading
Posted in current events, lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged envy, grace, immigration, Jesus, peace, salt
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over the water 