Gen 49: 29-32; 50 15-26 and Matthew 10: 24-33 Today’s readings are interesting juxtapositions. The story of Joseph is of a family riddled with secrets and lies. Then the Gospel reading tells us that everything done in the dark will…
This Gospel reading from John is the longest prayer in all the Bible. Somewhere around the 17th century it came to be called “the Priestly Prayer.” I personally find this prayer very dense and would call it “the why use…
A few years ago, I led a Bible study. It was for people who did not know much about the Bible, and it was simply an attempt to help them see what an extraordinary book it is — a series…
The theme this third Sunday of Advent, like all of Advent itself, is about expectations. Those of you who have heard me talk before will expect a short explanation of the root of the word “expectation.” And you will not…
Today’s readings are a wonderful collection of literary styles from Ezekiel’s visionary magical realism to the poetry of Psalm 46, the metaphor from Paul, and finally, a dramatic narrative about Jesus. In the first reading, Ezekiel says he is shown…
I start by admitting that I have a mixed relationship with the virtue of humility, which is the main point of the reading for today. When I was a kid, I was often in trouble for being loud and argumentative.…
This is Trinity Sunday. I first became aware of the concept of the Trinity at an overnight Girl Scout camp when I was around 9. The girl who led grace before dinner said, “In the name of the Father, the…
Luke 15: 1-3; 11-32 The story of the Prodigal Son is one of the most famous parables of Jesus. Many of us could repeat this story almost verbatim. The traditional interpretation is that the two brothers represent two extremes of…
About 15 years ago, my cousin married for the second time. She was 65, and the groom was 67. It was his first marriage. The wedding was relatively small — about 50 people, mostly relatives. There was a reception in…
In 1925 Pope Pius XI declared the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year to be the Feast of Christ the King. He did this to resist the rising fascism of Mussolini and the fascist movement in Europe. He was alarmed…
Almost every presidential campaign has slogans. One that could be repurposed for today’s presidential election is Lyndon Johnson’s anti-Goldwater slogan, “In your guts, you know he’s nuts.” Johnson’s far more lasting slogan was “LBJ for the USA.” A lot of slogans promise food…
I think many of us wake up slightly (or greatly) depressed at the state of our world. But once in a while, there are creative responses to some of the world’s problems. Here’s one: a 31-year-old Austrian multi-millionaire named Marlene Engelhorn…