It is about 700 BC. The magnificent tree called Israel that had sprung from the root of Jesse, father of King David is dying. Civil war has split the tree like a bolt of lightning and the Assyrian invaders have hacked down the larger half, cut it into a thousand pieces and scattered it toContinue reading “2 Advent 2022”
Author Archives: mtrbev11
1 Advent 2022
As we hear the scripture readings for today, the first Sunday of Advent in Year A, the first cycle of the church lectionary, we are reminded that Advent is both a time of joyful anticipation and a time of diligent preparation. The reading from Isaiah is a call to anticipate the glory of the comingContinue reading “1 Advent 2022”
Last Pentecost 2022
Today is the last Sunday after Pentecost, also known as Christ the King Sunday. It is the last week in our Liturgical year. Next week is the beginning of Advent and it is the season where the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end overlap to form our circular exploration of the life of Christ andContinue reading “Last Pentecost 2022”
Proper 28 2022
Magnificent buildings can cause us to stare in awe. Tourists travel hundreds and thousands of miles just to say they have seen the Eifel Tower, Buckingham Palace, or the Colosseum in Rome. They are wonders of human effort and ingenuity. But as we all know, they are no match for the forces of nature: fire, water, andContinue reading “Proper 28 2022”
Proper 26 2022
Think for a moment about your favorite pre-industrial British novels or television shows. It could be Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Charles Dickens, Downton Abbey, or even historical documentaries about landed estates or castles. I hope you are visualizing vast landed estates with lots of servants who have strict dress codes, manners and hierarchy and aContinue reading “Proper 26 2022”
Proper 25 2022
In our Gospel lessons for the last few weeks, Jesus has been teaching about faith. The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews gives us a nice succinct definition for faith. “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). He then goes on to illustrate his point by naming someContinue reading “Proper 25 2022”
Proper 23 2022
Last week we heard Jesus telling the disciples that they did not need more faith, what they needed was action, and by that action the power present in faith would become visible. Today Jesus is presented with an opportunity to point out an illustration of that kind of faith. Luke tells us that Jesus was headedContinue reading “Proper 23 2022”
Proper 22 2022
I was playing a violin piece for my teacher one day and I kept hitting the wrong string. I stopped and told Todd that I must need more rosin. He laughed and gently said, “It sounds good to me. I’m always ready to find a reason it is not me.” Rather than admit my bow control was notContinue reading “Proper 22 2022”
Proper 21 2022
Have you ever felt invisible? You are standing at a checkout counter and every clerk that walks by seems to look the other way just as they get near you. You are in class with your hand raised and the teacher never calls on you. You are with a group of people and every time you start toContinue reading “Proper 21 2022”
Proper 20 2022
Today’s parable is one of the most difficult stories in scripture to understand, but if we put it in context, it may be a bit easier to understand Jesus’ point. He has been talking about priorities. Jesus has pointed out that to follow him, we must make that our top priority. Nothing should be more important: notContinue reading “Proper 20 2022”
The Rev. Beverly Patterson 