Category Archives: sermon preparation

An Interview with Lazarus

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

Of course, they all would ask him about it, after the event. What was it like, being dead? Lazarus would look at them with strange eyes. He would tell them, “I don’t know what I can say to you about … Continue reading →

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Blind

Posted on March 27, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

He sent me away. I don’t know why, having shared with me his spit and mud, he wouldn’t lead me to the pool, cup the water in my hand; he didn’t see the wonder through. If he had, the first … Continue reading →

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The well woman

Posted on March 22, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

“Give me that water,” she said; “no more drudgery of trudging to the well.” He fixed her with a look so keen she felt the bucket of her belly tip over; all told she was empty, and bottomless. The water … Continue reading →

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Born again

Posted on March 11, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

There are no shadows at high noon, or at night, but Nicodemus’ brother is crepuscular, sneaking out in the gray dusk and slinking home at dawn. You will know him by his eyes, blood-red, searching, wildly, for the womb, the last … Continue reading →

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Ash Wednesday treasures

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” says Jesus. God has invested great treasure in us, making us even out of the dust in the divine image; breathing life into our nostrils, even through God’s own … Continue reading →

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Transfiguration

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

Once upon a mountaintop I saw, and having seen could not unsee, forget the white light of a soft robe rendered diamond sharp; its bright folds scratched my eyes. For an instant only, looking up, I saw his face, caught … Continue reading →

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Custody of the eyes

Posted on February 15, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

Jesus said, “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.” Gruesome stuff. And what on earth does he mean by it? I remember when our youngest child was newborn, and sleeping in my arms in the living … Continue reading →

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the light of the world

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

When you hide your face, the sky falls. Stars burn cold; the sun slumps, refusing to rise to the occasion; the moon gapes like a dumb rock. When you look away, ashen shadows coat everything with their fingerless touch. Turn … Continue reading →

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The dove

Posted on January 11, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

Back in the days of Noah, the heavens were opened and it rained for forty days and nights, and there was a flood. As you may remember, Noah and his family survived the deluge aboard an ark, onto which they … Continue reading →

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The Eve of the Epiphany

Posted on January 4, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

A side note to tomorrow’s sermon: It is not unimportant that the wise men came from the East. Why not from the West, from Rome or Greece or Gaul? Maybe in part to undermine the wisdom of the empire, but … Continue reading →

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