Category Archives: lectionary reflection

Does size matter?

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Rosalind C Hughes

Last week, the elders of Israel were quite rude and unmannerly to Samuel, declaring him “old,” and demanding a king. Samuel was justifiably offended, but God told him to go ahead and give them a king (1 Samuel 8). God … Continue reading →

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2 Corinthians and the naive faith of Henry Vaughn

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Rosalind C Hughes

When I was twelve, my English teacher told my parents that I was quite naive in my reading of the class poetry assignments. I knew why she said that. We had been reading Henry Vaughn, who seemed almost jealous of … Continue reading →

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Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit

Posted on June 9, 2012 by Rosalind C Hughes

Earlier this week I posted “Unforgivable,” a meditation on how we read and receive the threat of unforgivable sin as presented in this week’s gospel. I shied away from defining the unpardonable; blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. I maintain that … Continue reading →

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(no) Walking on the water

Posted on June 8, 2012 by Rosalind C Hughes

We are frequently offered an image of a Jesus who flouted lesser regulations; a transgressor of boundaries; a rebel. Is the story of the walk across the water an example of this?

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Unforgivable

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Rosalind C Hughes

So you think you’ve committed the unpardonable, unforgivable, permanently staining sin. Welcome. It is amazing, isn’t it, that with all of the gospel good news telling us how much God loves us, how ready God is to forgive us, how … Continue reading →

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The next verse

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Rosalind C Hughes

“not to condemn;” the part we too often judge to be forgettable.

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Romans 8: 12-17

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Rosalind C Hughes

Belonging Belonging, left longing for freedom, longing for love; owned and disowned in one sweet, divided breath? No. Belonging, beloved; longed-for and loved, left wanting for nothing that father and mother of all can supply, owing no debt in pounds … Continue reading →

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A study in contradictions

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Rosalind C Hughes

Psalm 29: One God, gloried by gods Breaking thunder. Powerful and splendid, breaking the cedars of Lebanon, breaking them down, bringing them joy, the joy of a child at play. Stricken lightning. Strong oaks writhe; the all too solid tree-flesh … Continue reading →

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Isaiah 6: 1-8

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Rosalind C Hughes

the seraphs, shimmering as if aflame flew on strong winds bellowing the coals to life; even the heavenly hosts used borrowed tools to take cleansing fire to touch my lips, set loose my tongue. Burning from the outside in, swallowing … Continue reading →

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And another (Pentecostal) thing …

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Rosalind C Hughes

With all the fuss about people hearing Galileans butchering their own languages with their heavy accents, where are the people curious about the fire sitting on top of these folks’ heads? (“Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and … Continue reading →

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