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Tag Archives: death penalty
Love is stronger
The prophet makes clear that there are things that must give way, or be transformed, if the kingdom of heaven is to be built. Systems of oppression and exclusion cannot stand if the table of love is to be set. And it will be set, Isaiah insists. God’s love will conquer all. Here is the good news. Continue reading
Posted in sermon
Tagged capital punishment, death penalty, Indigenous People’s Day, Isaiah 25:1-9, Jesus, matthew 22:1-14, Year A Proper 23
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Tomorrow’s sermon today: World Day Against the Death Penalty
On World Day Against the Death Penalty, and in light of this week’s news headlines, an extract from tomorrow’s sermon:
When we get stuck on narratives of vengeance and violence, when we get stuck on who is deserving to attend the feast to which God, not we, issues the invitation, well, then we get stuck.
And here we are, reduced to a nation threatening to stream its gun violence, state-sanctioned and sanitized as justice, to the world. … Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon, sermon preparation
Tagged death penalty, gun violence, Isaiah 25:1-9, Jesus,, matthew 22:1-14
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A love song to the vineyard
Jesus doesn’t need us to make wine. He can make wine out of water. But we have the opportunity to share in the delight of God, the joy that God takes in planting and tending and harvesting and writing love songs to a vineyard. Continue reading
Posted in homily, lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged parable, Jesus, Psalm 80, death penalty, vineyard, Isaiah 5:1-7, Matthew 21:33-46, parables of the vineyard
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Lazarus campaigns against the death penalty
This is a #preparingforSundaywithpoetry prologue post. At last evening’s Bible study, we noticed the “Lazarus framework“ to John’s Palm Sunday story (if you’re using Mark, another poem from the pov of the colt is coming). No wonder, we said, authorities … Continue reading
Do not invite death
We are not made in anyone’s image but God’s. We are not made for the corruption of death but for the covenant of life. Jesus does not love death or bloodshed – but Jesus loves us. Knowing this, how can we not consider turning from death to life; to pour out healing without counting the cost; to withhold death and restore relationship wherever it is possible; to deny the devil’s envy and replace it with love? Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged death, death penalty, gun violence, Jesus, life, Mark 5:21-43, Wisdom of Solomon
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When you pray
This was the prayer that first made me fall for Jesus, when I was a child. Of course, I learnt the expanded form that we use in worship; the one that we prayed, hands together, eyes closed, every morning at school assembly time (never at home). But even in its stripped down, barest form, as Luke presents Jesus teaching it, the world which this prayer conjures into being is enough to set my spirit on fire. Continue reading
Year A Epiphany 7: How to be perfect
There is good news in the fact that the Lord our God is holy. There is grace in the perfection of our heavenly Father, and we wouldn’t want any lesser kind of god. But what do we make of these … Continue reading
Life and death, justice, humanity and God
When I was studying theology the first time around, long ago, I remember a discussion about the concepts of justice. Justice, we were taught, could be of one or more of four different characters: retributive, protective, deterrent, or reformative/rehabilitative. Retributive justice is … Continue reading
Posted in other words
Tagged Christian, death penalty, deterrent, justice, Mark Klima, Mark Wiles, Ohio
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