Tag Archives: way of the cross

Unhinged

I am a gate, I swing this way and that, inviting you to step into my dance, leading with the song you have heard before: creak and sigh of hungry humanity herded like sheep by fear and faith by turns. … Continue reading

Posted in lectionary reflection, poetry, prayer, sermon preparation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Triduum

While the dough was doing its thing, I went out to the forge, made one more cross out of gun barrels. Continue reading

Posted in gun violence, holy days | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christ, the king we need

At the end, as at the beginning of his ministry, Jesus was subjected to the taunts and contempt of the tempter. The voices that surrounded him invited him to abdicate his position as one of us, Emmanuel, God with us; … Continue reading

Posted in holy days, lectionary reflection, sermon | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Are we there yet?

There is nothing in Christ’s story that would justify our sacrifice of children, women, grocery shoppers, police officers, and passers by to defend our right to reserve weapons of violence to ourselves. On the contrary, the resurrection is God’s ultimate judgement on the violence that nailed Jesus to the cross. The resurrection is God’s utter negation and reversal of all that would kill the beloved. Continue reading

Posted in current events, gun violence, holy days, homily, sermon | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Love, lies, and blessing

We can protect our tongues from bitterness and our souls from shame by keeping to the truth, and holding fast to the hope that Christ has set before us, and following him, step by step, word by word, in the way of the cross, the way of God’s unimaginable love, for all whom God has made in the image of the living God. Continue reading

Posted in blessings, current events, lectionary reflection, sermon | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Overcome

What should a disaster preparedness plan for a church look like? Continue reading

Posted in current events, lectionary reflection, sermon | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Godsplaining

This, the Christian story, the Gospel story, is the story within which we live, and move, and have our being. This is our story. Continue reading

Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gateway Jesus

The readings are for “Good Shepherd Sunday,” fourth of Easter, 2017 I have some sympathy with Jesus’ original audience, who heard him speak of sheep and shepherds, gates and gatekeepers, and wondered what he might mean. So he tries to … Continue reading

Posted in current events, lectionary reflection, sermon | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Simon Peter Says

Think positive Put on a brave face Put your best foot forward Do not waver Do not speak of death and it will not happen Do not look upon the cross and it will not crush you Look on the … Continue reading

Posted in lectionary reflection, poetry, sermon preparation | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Love your neighbour/Stand your ground

A reflection on three little words: Love your neighbour and three more: Stand your ground. Stand your ground: refuse to yield to the insidious isms of the age. Stand your ground: let love outweigh fear, pity dominate over prejudice, mercy … Continue reading

Posted in meditation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment