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Tag Archives: Lent
Hear my prayer
The lake has melted. Sand and shale
strewn by the winter floes litter the beach.
I pick out the pebbles that hint at a heart
of stone. My prayers are rocks
thrown heavenward; Continue reading
“A sin of fear”
Fear of our own condemnation is what leads us so often to condemn others. Fear of missing out makes us grasping and fetters our generosity of spirit. We covet what is our neighbour’s instead of making sure that they have enough to get by. Fear of rejection leads us to scapegoat, separate, scorn those whom Christ would welcome from the cross into paradise. Fear makes thieves of our prayers. We seek to secure to ourselves the blessings that God would share with the whole of creation. Continue reading
Posted in poetry, sermon
Tagged 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, A Hymn to God the Father, Exodus 20: 1-17, John 2:13-22, John Donne, Lent, Year B Lent 3
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On being lost
Today’s Speaking to the Soul at the Episcopal Cafe draws upon my word to the parish for March, as well as a much older memory of being (almost) lost in the wilderness Once, we thought we were lost for real. … Continue reading
Less than forty years
We have been in this wilderness for a year now. It will not take us 40 years to reach its far side, but it will remain a part of our faith story, shaping our lament and our hope for years to come. It has physically altered our prayers and our liturgy. It has called us, like Noah, like Abraham, like Moses, into new ways of being and new understandings of God’s presence with us. Continue reading
Ostriches and jackals
(This Lenten meditation for the daily series from the Diocese of Ohio was composed before our part of the world was turned upside down by COVID-19; but God’s mercy endures forever.) Continue reading
Why did this happen?
When Jesus and his disciples come across a blind man begging, the disciples ask a question that the sages have answered in various ways throughout the ages: why is there suffering in the world? Why do even the unarguably innocent – babies and children – suffer? Why do we live with these questions from birth and throughout our lives, even in the midst of joy, even in the midst of love, even with Jesus walking right next to us? Continue reading
Posted in current events, sermon, story
Tagged coronavirus, COVID-19, John 9:1-41, Lent, pandemic, Psalm 23, suffering, theodicy
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The longest Lent
After forty days, he was tempted to give it up: the faith, the fast, the body, lay down among the dry bones. Continue reading
Posted in current events, story
Tagged coronavirus, Lent, Matthew 4:1-11, pandemic, social distancing
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Naming the idols
Some are easy to spot, sporting colourful plumage;
they make fast promises they cannot keep. Continue reading
Posted in Holy Days, lectionary reflection, meditation, poetry, prayer
Tagged idols, Lent
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Ash Wednesday: grace is not in vain
Lent is a good discipline for me. The soul-searching, the self-denial, the study of God’s grace is something that I need constantly if I am to recognize the enormity, the ridiculous span and spread of God’s mercy.
But constantly is hard to do. Continue reading
Posted in Holy Days, homily, lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10, Ash Wednesday, church calendar, confession, fast, grace, Lent, reconciliation
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Refreshment Sunday: Going over Jordan
For Christians, when God says, “I have rolled away your disgrace,” can it help but bring to mind the rolling away of the stone from the tomb that is to come in a few short weeks, the hope beyond Good Friday? Continue reading
Posted in sermon, sermon preparation
Tagged Jordan River, Joshua, Laetare Sunday, Lent, Refreshment Sunday
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over the water 