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Proper 19 2022

There is a video on Facebook of a sheep that has found a badger hole or fox den, or some other hole that is just big enough for her to walk into and be totally swallowed up. Israel’s terrain is naturally full of holes and crevices. She is either unwilling or perhaps just hasn’t figured outContinue reading “Proper 19 2022”

Proper 18 2022

Today’s reading is one where we really have to understand the social structure in which Jesus is speaking. When you hear the word people, what do you think of? Is it a singular or plural noun? Do you visualize a group of random individuals or do you think of a single entity made up of many interconnected,Continue reading “Proper 18 2022”

Proper 17, 2022

Last week I used the image of a jigsaw puzzle to talk about how the story of Jesus healing the woman with a bad back touched on several aspects of the larger picture Luke was trying to describe and interlocked with both previous stories and next stories in Luke. I mentioned it contained images of Jesus’Continue reading “Proper 17, 2022”

Proper 16 2022

Reading scripture, especially the way we read it on Sunday mornings can feel a lot like working a jigsaw puzzle. When you just dump it out on the table half of the pieces are face down and you can’t see anything until you turn it over. You can immediately begin to discern certain prominent colors. This green pieceContinue reading “Proper 16 2022”

Proper 12 2022

Prayer is one of the most fundamental aspects of our spiritual life and it is the one aspect with which more people, especially those who have grown up in a more liturgical rather than evangelical denomination, find that they struggle. Prayer is a foundational practice of the Jewish faith from which we have deep spiritualContinue reading “Proper 12 2022”

Proper 11 2021

As many of you probably know by now, Fiddler on the Roof is one of my favorite shows. Besides just being entertaining, it gives us a glimpse into the common life of a pre-modern Jewish family. I suspect much of the social etiquette described in that show was in place in Jesus time. Everyone hadContinue reading “Proper 11 2021”

Proper 10 2022

While I was on the 7 hour flight from Ireland back to Virginia, I had plenty of time to watch movies, including some Irish made movies. One of the movies I watched was called Belfast. It was the story of one family’s struggle to stay neutral and compassionate to their neighbors, both Protestant and CatholicContinue reading “Proper 10 2022”

Trinity Sunday 2022

Today is Trinity Sunday. I am not going to try and offer you a comprehensible definition of the Trinity. The Trinity is a mystery that must be accepted by faith if one accepts it. What I do want to do is look at the development of our statements of faith, our creeds, and explain howContinue reading “Trinity Sunday 2022”

Pentecost 2022

I am fascinated by words and their impact on society. So much so, that I have actually listened to two of Dr. John McWhorter’s lecture series on the history of language available through the Great Courses. Dr. McWhorter does not explain the development of language the same way as the book of Genesis does, butContinue reading “Pentecost 2022”

7 Easter 2022

There is so much fear, grief, anger and frustration going on right now and I confess that I don’t have the answers to make it stop. The last school shooting hit close to home for me. I was born one town over and the Episcopal priest in Uvalde is a dear friend of mine. OthersContinue reading “7 Easter 2022”