Many years ago when I was waking up to my Christian faith, I took a Bible study course that used a particular method for reading scripture. Bible scholars call that a hermeneutic: a lens though which we consciously (or unconsciously) interpret a sacred text. So in this case, for each Scripture passage we studied, we were asked to … Read the rest
Continue reading "Compassionate Judgment" »Tag: sin
Tears of Pain and Power
It’s the tears that really get to me in this story. Everything that the woman does is unexpected: the bold entry into the house of a Pharisee, the weeping, the anointing, the contact with the rabbi’s feet, the loosened hair. The reality and the symbolism of each of these actions is quite extraordinary. Even more so if we … Read the rest
Continue reading "Tears of Pain and Power" »Been There, Done That
There’s this silly graphic making the rounds on social media these days. Maybe mostly on nerdy clergy Facebook pages, but perhaps you’ve seen it too. It’s a series of crosses that might be made on people’s foreheads. There’s the clean, crisp one called “first in line,” and the very pale one called “add toner.” There are also some … Read the rest
Continue reading "Been There, Done That" »Apocalypse, Already.
“When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place…”
It’s more than a little bit unsettling when 2000 year-old texts read like last week’s headlines. As I was preparing this sermon, I felt like I should probably be looking over my shoulder the whole time, just in case there were … Read the rest
Continue reading "Apocalypse, Already." »Wrecking the Roof
“Why do you raise such questions in your heart?” Jesus asks the scribes and Pharisees. Pharisees being rather strict observers of aspects of Jewish law and tradition, and scribes being the professional scholars who interpreted Holy Scripture. You might think of me, as a priest, as something of a latter-day scribe. And so I can hear that question … Read the rest
Continue reading "Wrecking the Roof" »Turning to Romans 7
The Monday after I was made a priest, just about three weeks ago, I started an intensive summer class in liturgical leadership. That’s the class that teaches us how to do the things like baptism, Eucharist and marriage. The kinds of things a priest might be expected to do. I figured that two days after my ordination might be a … Read the rest
Continue reading "Turning to Romans 7" »