Reflections (Page 5)

When we match that which brings us joy with our skills to bear on our concerns in the world, we can make a positive impact.

This week marks the celebration of Thanksgiving all across the United States. For many, it is a time of family gatherings and holiday traditions. It has long been one of my favorite holidays as it focuses mostly on people coming together, sharing a meal and being grateful. I have such fond memories of eating at the kids’ table, graduating from the kids’ table, meal time jokes and pranks, late night leftover sandwiches and watching a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. I also…

Jesus counsels us today to be wary of our participation in "sin." By this he encourages us to be agents of connection versus separation.

In today's reading Jesus takes on the ideas of social class by which people do for others with the expectation of some return.

This week we celebrate the holy days of All Saints/All Souls. It is a time to reflect on our ancestors (human and nonhuman) and learn from their wisdom.

Jesus speaks often in the gospels about money and economics. Today he offers a stern warning about greed and wealth accumulation.

The sign of Jonah that Jesus speaks of as the only sign we need is tied to the expansive and inclusive vision of God's kin-dom.

Just as Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan - who stopped and attended to the wounded - so must we stop and do the same.

In our scriptural traditions, the wilderness prophets sought to remind people of their deep connection to the land and all other species.

The Christian religion, while offering much to this world, also has an enduring heritage of persecution, exclusion and intoleranc - including anti-Jewish oppression.

We all face times in our spiritual lives that require us to makes some changes and do things differently in order to find renewal.

The religious authorities in the time of Jesus were more concerned with being right than attending to the relationships in front of them. At times, we may not be all that different...