Tag: Social Justice
-
Resisting The Forces Of Death – An Ash Wednesday Reflection
Imagine you come to my house and I greet you at the door by saying, “I don’t hate you.” What would you think of that? What feelings might it bring up? What tone would it set for our time together? Maybe it’s just me but that’s how I hear the beginning of the Proper Liturgy… Read more
-
Off The Page And Onto The Streets – A Reflection On The Beatitudes
Every day I receive emails, texts, and news articles calling me to act, to resist, to protest. Maybe you do too. I wonder if that’s what Jesus was doing when he preached the Sermon on the Mount. What if the Beatitudes, the gospel for this Sunday (Matthew 5:1-12), are his call for us to act,… Read more
-
Going To Pharaoh- A Reflection On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
In the Episcopal Church the Feast of Martin Luther King, Jr., is celebrated on April 4, the date of his death. One of the things that strikes me about the gospel assigned for that day (Luke 6:27-36) is just how much Jesus sounds like Martin Luther King, Jr. “Love your enemies, do good to those… Read more
-
Making A Pledge To Normalcy
Late last Friday afternoon I went for a bike ride. I chased dirt roads through a neighborhood forest, spooked some deer, enjoyed cool weather, and kept an eye on the cloudy and darkening skies. My only goal was to get back to my truck before the sun set. It felt nice to be out and… Read more
-
What’s Your Here And Now Christmas Story?
You know the usual Christmas story (Luke 2:1-20). It happened “in those days” when Emperor Augustus issued a decree to “all the world.” He was pretty full of himself. It happened “in that region” where shepherds were living in the fields and working the night shift. They were neither imperial nor august. They were, rather,… Read more
-
Some Soul-Searching – A Sermon On John 10:22-30
To whom or what are you dedicating yourself these days? Whose voice are you listening to and following? Who or what is shepherding your life today? On a Sunday morning in church the obvious and correct answer is Jesus. But I don’t want us to settle for the obvious and correct. Today, I want us… Read more
-
Now It Is Up To Us – A Good Friday Sermon On John 18:1-19:42
“‘It is finished.’ Then Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” “It is finished.” Those are not the words of a winner who accomplished his task. They are the words of a witness who, God help him, testified to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth: – The truth about… Read more
-
Asking A Better Question – A Sermon On Luke 13:1-19 And Exodus 3:1-15
The Why Question Years ago I was talking with John, one of my best friends. I was telling him about something that had happened to me. I no longer remember what it was but I vividly remember wanting to know why it had happened. I wanted an explanation, a sense of security, maybe even a… Read more
-
Taking The Gospel To Heart – A Sermon On Luke 6:27-38
Today’s gospel (Luke 6:27-38) is one of those texts that some say preaches itself. The text itself is the sermon. It’s even called the Sermon on the Plain in recognition that Jesus “stood on a level place” while preaching. I spoke about that level place in last Sunday’s sermon about blessings and woes. Jesus continues… Read more
Interrupting the Silence 