Freedom! It should be a simple concept, but as we see today, it’s anything but. Freedom and power have a complex relationship and in our second reading, Paul has many thoughts on how Christians should exercise them both. On this weekend when we celebrate freedom in the United States, we ponder what it truly means […]
Elijah and Elisha might be called the dynamic duo of prophets in the Old Testament. Elijah was brash and bold (most of the time); Elisha was the faithful apprentice learning the ropes. Until one day everything changes, and Elisha has to wrestle with how to move forward. Like Elisha, how do we move forward into […]
Who is God, really? Trinity starts with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but it doesn’t end there. Today we are invited to wonder and delight in the mystery of God. True wisdom comes from knowing how little we actually understand, and being willing to learn the same way the same way a little child does: […]
The story of Pentecost is not about everyone speaking the same language, but about everyone being truly understood. Poured out in wind and fire, water, wine, and bread, the Holy Spirit abides in and among us. We give thanks that God speaks to each of us, no matter our origins, language, or life path. Filled […]
When are the free not really free? In today’s reading from Acts, the free are enslaved and the enslaved are made free in a topsy-turvy story about an exploited young woman, a city suspicious of newcomers, and a jailer conflicted about his role in a corrupt system. Paul and Silas come preaching the kingdom of […]
They say “no man is an island,” but sometimes it’s better and saner to have a little solitude. Still, it’s not good to be alone for too long. Jesus explains how God will send the Holy Spirit to urge us on to love one another. The story of Paul and Lydia demonstrates how the Spirit […]
Easter brings a new day. It anticipates a new heaven and a new earth, knowing that the risen Christ makes all things new—including us. It washes away human barriers that do not serve God’s purposes for this new family, this new realm. Today Jesus invites us to see everyone in a new light—through the lens […]
It’s usually reassuring to get back to normal after a big life event. But for Peter and Paul, their attempts to get “back to normal” went off track the minute Jesus got involved. Sometimes normal is overrated. Sometimes normal is a code word for being stuck in the status quo. When Jesus shows up, a […]
Locked in the upper room, the disciples weren’t sure how to go on after the crucifixion. Rumor had it Jesus was alive again, but only a few were sure. Jesus shows up for all them, but especially for Thomas, who needs to know Jesus is real and alive in the flesh and in our world. […]
Our sense of smell cuts right through our reason and logic and goes straight to our center of emotional memory. Our gospel today is filled with powerful scents and emotions that speak prophetically about what is to come. Jesus will be poured out for the world as Mary pours out her precious perfume. The scent […]