Blog (Page 35)
Freedom to turn the world right-side up
Holy Thursday Readings: EX 12:1-8, 11-14; 1 COR 11:23-26; JN 13:1-15 The Pesach or Passover is one of the most important Jewish holidays. It is a beautiful ritual that remembers the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. In many ways, it is the birth story of Israel. In a very similar way, the gospel tells the birth story of a people that is remembered in what has come to be called the Last Supper which is then commemorated in the eucharist.…
falling out of love
Wednesday of Holy Week Readings: IS 50:4-9A; MT 26:14-25 We just heard this reading from Isaiah as part of the Sunday cycle, so I won’t say much more on it other than what I wrote the other day. The gospel tells the story of how Judas plotted against Jesus in exchange for silver. Then at the Passover celebration, Jesus tells his friends, “One of you will betray me.” Even Judas says, “Surely it is not I…” But Jesus knows otherwise.…
God has got me
Tuesday of Holy Week Readings: IS 49:1-6; JN 13:21-33, 36-38 The first reading from Isaiah offers us a line that I’m sure many of us can relate to, “I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength.” I am guessing that anyone who is reading this has thought something similar about an undertaking or relationship. We might have wondered, “Why did I pour myself into this for nothing?” My guess is that Jesus felt this…
Living openhandedly and openheartedly
Monday of Holy Week Readings: IS 42:1-7; JN 12:1-11 The first reading from Isaiah 42 tells the story of the “suffering servant” – the one who suffers so the victory of justice may come about. These are the passages that the Jews who were followers of Jesus reread after his death and saw the life and work of Jesus in them. We even hear echoes of Jesus’ ministry in this passage when it says that this chosen one will “open…
Counter-Demonstration
Palm Sunday Readings: LK 19:28-40; IS 50:4-7; PHIL 2:6-11; LK 22:14—23:56 And so we start the “high holy days” of the Christian calendar culminating in what is called the Triduum which starts on Holy Thursday and ends on Easter Sunday. This week is the microcosm of the faith and encapsulates the wide range of human emotion. One of my favorite lines of scripture comes today from the book of Isaiah and I think of it often in my profession as…
They will take away our land and nation
Saturday, April 13 Readings: EZ 37:21-28; JN 11:45-56 In the first reading, we hear Ezekiel prophesy about a future when Israel would be unified under a leader and would enjoy peace and prosperity on their own soil. For a nation that has been conquered, split and dispossessed, this is a deep longing. And in the gospel, we hear that the fame of Jesus was spreading but not just in the “Wow, he does some amazing stuff” sense. People began to…
Jesus returns to the wild
Friday, April 12 Readings: JER 20:10-13; JN 10:31-42 Jeremiah’s words probably describe how Jesus was feeling as the net began to close around him and his enemies and detractors gained momentum, “All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine.” We might feel like this at times as well – when people turn against us, speak behind our backs, betray us or delight in our failures and missteps. It’s a terrible feeling. Jesus tries…
Ridiculed, Resisted and Opposed
Thursday, April 11 Readings: GN 17:3-9; JN 8:51-59 Today’s readings are setting the stage for the big confrontations that will emerge during Holy Week, and you can see from the gospel that what Jesus is saying is infuriating the religious authorities as well as some of the regular religious folk as well. Most of us know that Abraham was one of the most revered figures in the Jewish faith. It’s actually hard to state just how important he was to…
What God do you serve?
Wednesday, April 10 Readings: DN 3:14-20, 91-92, 95; JN 8:31-42 The first reading tells the dramatic story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who refuse to worship the golden statue of King Nebuchadnezzar. So he throws them in the furnace where they are joined by a mysterious stranger and miraculously survive! Nebuchadnezzar has a conversion moment (I mean, who wouldn’t!) and praises the God of Israel. In the gospel we continue to hear the sometimes obscure monologues from Jesus. This time…
The wound is the cure
Tuesday, April 9 Readings: NM 21:4-9; JN 8:21-30 The reading from the book of Numbers is one of my favorites. The Israelites are tired. Yes, they were saved from slavery in Egypt, but now they’re wandering in the desert. Their feet hurt. They’re thirsty. The food is stale and wretched. And so they start complaining. God’s not pleased at this and sends snakes their way to bite them. Many died from this and so they repent. God tells Moses to…
A single voice
Monday, April 8 Readings: DN 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62; JN 8:12-20 The very long first reading from Daniel tells a tale of male power and abuse against Susanna. Two of the respected elders intend to sexually assault her and when their plan is interrupted, they accuse her of a moral crime. Susanna is found guilty based on their testimony, and they are willing to watch her die for their evil intentions. If Daniel had not spoken up, her death would…
Who gets to speak
Sunday, April 7 Readings: IS 43:16-21; PHIL 3:8-14; JN 8:1-11 It just so happens that I am preaching on these readings at church, so I have had a little extra time to reflect on them (but I’ll keep my thoughts here a bit briefer!). In the gospel a nameless woman is brought before Jesus. The Pharisees who bring her claim that she has been “caught in adultery” and “according to the law” she should be stoned. They seek to trap…