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Tag Archives: gospel
When we can’t see the end of the story
It can feel sometimes as though Jesus has withdrawn to the backwaters of Galilee, , and we do not know when we will see him again, nor whether he will come with whips and cords to clean out the temples of power, or even our own house; or whether he will come in chains, bowed down by the burdens of the principalities that still oppose the reign of God, its justice, its mercy, its peace; or whether he will come in glory, a light to shine the world toward salvation. Continue reading
Posted in holy days, lectionary reflection, sermon, story
Tagged gospel, grief, Luke 2:22-40, Nunc Dimittis, Simeon and Anna, The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, waiting
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Stand up for Advent
Do not become consumed by signs of turmoil. Stand up. Raise your heads. Give voice to the gospel. Expect God. Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged Advent, Bethlehem, climate change, gospel, gun violence, Holy Land, immigration, Luke 21:25-36, St Nicholas, Year C Advent 1
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Stealing the gospel
More guns bring more violence, and we have had enough of the ‘gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.’ Continue reading
Posted in gun violence, homily, meditation, sermon
Tagged Acts 8:9-25, Columbine, gospel, gun violence, nonviolence, NRA, Simon the Magician
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Waking up to a resurrection revolution
Fifty years have passed, now, since King’s sermon at the Cathedral, and his subsequent assassination. If this death of his had been but sleep, as some of the poets say, and he were to awaken and return today, I wonder if he would be in any way disturbed by the kind of revolution whose results met Rip Van Winkle, or Thomas the apostle. Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon, story
Tagged Easter 2, gospel, Martin Luther King Jr, poverty, racism, Resurrection, Rip Van Winkle, social justice, Thomas
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Mangled time: a love story
Advent is not the most comforting season of the liturgical year. It itches with anticipation. It scratches at the walls like a prisoner counting out the days. It mangles time, mixing up what has been with what will be, preparing … Continue reading
Posted in advent meditations, lectionary reflection, sermon, story
Tagged Advent, gospel, keep awake, love story
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Revolution
Two centuries after the Declaration of Independence, and two millennia after the birth, death, and resurrection of the Christ, we are still prone to fall back on familiar figures of authority, and to forget the revolutionary promises of the gospel. Continue reading
Posted in sermon
Tagged emancipation, God, gospel, Magnificat, parable, parable of the talents, revolution
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Year B Proper 21: the hell with it
From this morning’s gospel: If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your … Continue reading
Posted in sermon
Tagged Amy-Jill Levine, eternal punishment, forgiveness, Gehenna, gospel, hell, Jesus, Mark 9:38-50, Richard Holloway
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Year B Lent 2: putting a spin on the gospel
One of the good things to come out of the trials and tribulations of Brian Williams and Bill O’Reilly, in hot water over the accuracy of their memories of reporting from dangerous places, accused of polishing their credentials, of burnishing … Continue reading
Posted in sermon
Tagged Abraham, Bill O'Reilly, Brian Williams, cross, denial, despair, faith, God won't give you more than you can handle, gospel, Jesus, lies, memory, Paul, Peter, spin
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Year B Advent 2: Comfort ye my people
This sermon quotes liberally and loosely the lectionary readings for the day throughout: Isaiah 40:1-11, Psalm 85, 2 Peter 3:8-15, Mark 1:1-8 Comfort, comfort ye my people. The history of this oracle is the return of the Exiles from Babylon … Continue reading
Posted in sermon
Tagged 2Peter 3:8-15, Cleveland police department, Eric Garner, gospel, injustice, Isaiah 40:1-11, Jerusalem, justice, Mark 1:1-8, patience, Psalm 85, Tamir Rice
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Poisonous legacies and new tongues
The basic hagiography of Francis Xavier goes something like this: Born in 1506 in the Navarre region of France, Francis met Ignatius of Loyola as a young man, and was greatly influenced by his friendship. Together, with others, they formed … Continue reading
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