Tag Archives: Jesus

Strange gifts

For the feast of Joseph of Arimathea: The gift of a place to rest in peace. A quiet tomb. A hillside full of life and new growth. A garden; paradise on earth. The tenderness of a cradling arm, swaddling clothes. … Continue reading

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Martha, Mary and the midwife’s advice

Here’s how I’d like the story to go: Martha: lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” Jesus: “lads, Simon, Andrew, James, Whatsyername, you … Continue reading

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Year C Proper 7: Angels and demons

In some ways, the man healed of demons in the Gerasene region of Galilee is the first preacher of the Christian gospel. He gets it – he really does! Even after years of torment at the mercy of a legion … Continue reading

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Year C Proper 6: the sinful woman and Mary of Magdala

The question came up during our Tuesday bible study week whether the sinner who anoints Jesus’ feet in the Gospel according to Luke is, in fact, Mary Magdalene, mentioned further down the page. There is a long tradition in the … Continue reading

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Year C Proper 5: if I make my bed in the grave

The fact that the stories we hear today, which echo one another so clearly that these two women might have been related, one the great-great grandmother of the other, a sister several times removed; the fact that these stories revolve … Continue reading

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Religious rituals and summer Sunday attendance

Two days after my mother died, at half past five in the morning, I heard a strange noise outside my bedroom window, the window of the spare bedroom in my parent’s house. It was a rasping, grinding, rolling, grunting, sighing … Continue reading

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Trinity Sunday 2013

(A sermon I won’t be there to preach, ironically because I am “suffering” from shingles. But my love and prayers are with the parish of Epiphany this morning, and I’m so glad to be in a relationship with them.) I … Continue reading

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To forgive is divine

the first in a short series on forgiveness. I’m really interested to hear your own stories, insights and opinions “To forgive is divine,” so they say. In some ways, it’s simple. Why forgive? we might ask, and we can enumerate … Continue reading

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Some things ascend (others do not)

The skylark, singing. Clouds; but those that reach the mountaintop fall as rain, giggling and gurgling. A swan, slow to start, duckpond runway, lifting largely, broad wings set free. Incense laden with prayers, pious particles. A child on a trampoline, … Continue reading

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Year C Easter 3: Paying attention

God would like our attention, please. It seems to me that the very different stories in today’s lectionary selections have the common theme of God getting someone’s, or some-two’s, or everyone under heaven and earth’s attention. Hey! Listen up! Pay … Continue reading

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