8/25/2019
Pentecost 11 Yr C: Proper 16

In the Gospel reading today, Jesus performs another miraculous healing. The story also shows us yet another case of Jesus arguing with the religious leaders about their obsession with rules. The Pharisees took it quite literally that absolutely nothing that hinted of ‘work’ was to be done on the Sabbath; not even the work of healing somebody. Jesus saw that extreme interpretation as ludicrous, and he had no reservations about telling them so.

But there is another dimension to this story that has nothing to do with the Sabbath, and everything to do with the healing Jesus brings to US.

8/18/2019
Pentecost 10 Yr C: Proper 15

Jesus realized that in a few weeks He would be immersed (his word was ‘baptized’) in the agonizing pain of his Passion. Because he knew his time on earth was coming to its end, he felt an urgency to kindle the fire he had brought to earth.  The fire He brought isn’t physical fire; it is the burning, exciting, dynamic presence of God in the lives of people.

8/4/2019
Pentecost 8 Yr C: Proper 13

2019 mass shootings as of 6 am today – 251

Our national conversations about climate change, nuclear weapons, immigration reform, gun control, abortion, and the rights of minorities has degenerated into rhetoric that spews out division, anger, hate, and violence.

7/28/2019
Pentecost 7 Yr C: Proper 12

I have a hard time reading today’s Old Testament passage without laughing at Abraham’s boldness. He was bargaining with God about saving Sodom.  “Will you sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty righteous who are in it?”  And then 45; then 40; then 30, 20, and finally Abraham had God agree that “for the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 

I think Abraham should get an ‘A’ grade for persistence.  He wouldn’t let the discussion go, but kept asking with confidence that God would answer him; and at the same time he showed humility and reverence that after all, this was GOD he was bargaining with.

7/21/2019
Pentecost 6 Yr C: Proper 11

Abraham kept his attention on the values of his faith, let his comfort and security be threatened by opening himself to these strangers – and he attended to angels of God.

7/7/2019
Pentecost 4 Yr C: Proper 9

A core purpose in our life as Christians is Discipleship; building up our faith by learning more about God’s Word, more about taking on the character of Christ, and how to apply biblical principles in a realistic way to the way we live our lives.

The Gospel lesson today is about Jesus conducting field training of a large group of disciples. 

6/30/2019
Pentecost 3 Yr C: Proper 8

The prophet Elijah passed his cloak onto Elisha. That cloak represented his power as a prophet of God, and all that he had learned, and all that he had been empowered to do. This scene is not just about the cloak, but it is about passing forward the story; his understanding of Faith in God; passed from mentor to student; enabling the next generation, and anchoring the next generation to something thought out and powerful; and making sure through that passing forward, that true Faith would endure.

6/23/2019
Pentecost 2 Yr C: Proper 7

Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” The lake was the Sea of Galilee, and that trip took them out of Jewish territory into the land of the Gerasenes. This was Gentile land; where people did not know God. And in that land Jesus met a man who was overtaken by demons. Imagine being one of the witnesses of this event. The people in that town obviously knew the man; for many years he had worn no clothes, lived in the cemetery, and sometimes had to be chained up and guarded; but he was able to break the chains and run away. Jesus knew that what was at work was evil spirits. And so he asked, “What is your name?”  The answer should have put chills down the spine of every person who heard the reply; “Legion”. A legion was the largest unit in the Roman army; about 6,000 soldiers. But that wasn’t what made the people afraid.