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Tag Archives: parable
Jealousy vs joy
Jealousy is the thief of joy. It keeps the elder brother from the family reunion. It prevents the citizen from celebrating the rescue of the refugee, the wealthy from celebrating Jesus’ announcement of good news for the poor and the meek. It resents the love of God for its rival, and leads to the casting of golden calves to spite them all. It clouds the vision of the scribes so that they do not even recognize the Word of God when he is standing right in front of them, telling stories from heaven. Continue reading
Posted in current events, homily, lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged conversion of Saul, jealousy, Jesus, joy, lost sheep, Luke 15:1-10, parable, Year C Proper 19
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The prodigal
It would be such a simple tale of family forgiveness, were it not for that wrinkle at the end, but that’s what makes it real. If there were no sin, there would be no need of salvation. If there were no rift, there would be no need for reconciliation. That’s why this story calls us to remember our charge as ambassadors for Christ, ministers and messengers of reconciliation, members of the beloved community of Christ that somehow brings together the sinner and the sinned against. Continue reading
Posted in homily, lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged forgiveness, parable, prodigal son, reconciliation, repentance, Year C Lent 4
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Who am I to judge?
The judge of the parable had no regard for anyone, but the God who will pass judgement upon me so loved the world as to become Emmanuel, God with us, to suffer under our unjust judgement, and to die. The God who will, I pray, have mercy upon me hears the cries of the widows to whom I turn a cloth ear, and continues to importune me with opportunities for penitence. Continue reading
The table
Ironically, while we are deciding where to seat him, Jesus is busy setting the table himself. And his invitation is clear:
Come to me, all you who are weary, and I will give you rest.
Come to me, you who are thirsty, and I will give you living water to drink.
Come, eat of the bread of life, and I will raise you up. Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged discipleship, gun violence, Hebrews 13:1-8&15-16, Jesus, Luke 14:1-4, parable, sabbath
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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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Love and marriage
Today’s readings include the golden calf incident during the Exodus, and the parable of the wedding banquet You may have seen, as I did, the story this week of a young girl who chose a new, white suit in which … Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged Eucharist, golden calf, Holy Communion, idolatry, parable, Sacrament, symbol, ten commandments, wedding feast, Year A Proper 23
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The business traveller
After the incident; forever after as he travelled from city to stone city, he would look across the crowd, scanning the horizon and its fall, not for danger – he never saw the robbers coming, never would – blissfully ignorant, … Continue reading
Year C Lent 4: life and death
It is such a familiar story, and one which we love: God running to us, skirts hitched up, “my child! My child!” It is all the good news that we need. We were dead but are alive again, by the … Continue reading
The prodigal God
Waiting for the God to come home; if I saw her on the road would I run, hitching up my skirts, fire up the pyre, melt the golden calf, sacrifice my unbelief, my cold soul on the altar of her … Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, poetry, prayer, sermon preparation
Tagged God, Luke 15:11-32, parable, prodigal son, repentance, Year C Lent 4
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A cynical preacher on the prodigal parable
Every story has a point of view. I knew that family. I would have told their story a little differently than Jesus did. I would have told you a little more. The kid was a chancer, a gambler, an addict. … Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon preparation
Tagged addiction, cynical preacher, family, Jesus, Luke 15:11-32, parable, prodigal son, Revelation 22:1, Year C Lent 4
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over the water 