Many times, when we read a contemporary book, we pass right over the short quotation many writers include in the very beginning to sum up the meaning or theme of their book. However, one contemporary novel has a great opening quotation that’s impossible to ignore: “Any Christian who is not a hero is a pig.”…

One of the most moving parts of the vocational life of a priest is the sacred privilege and honor of listening to the cares, joys, and concerns in people’s lives. Nothing can compare to the extremes that a priest experiences in performing this sacred act of listening: tremendous highs and the lowest of lows. It…

This very night your life is being demanded of you. (Luke 12:20) A perceptive parishioner once posed this question: “What would you do differently,” she asked her Bible study group, “if you knew you were going to live forever?” Although she posed the question in a light-hearted moment, her query went to the heart of…

The Old Testament story of Abraham’s bargaining with God reminds us vividly that, early on, people of faith believed that the Creator is merciful and that God responds to the requests of people who are longing for mercy on behalf of others. Abraham is not asking God’s favor for himself; he wants to save the…

The Gospel of Jesus the Christ calls us into doing some radical living, if we are truly listening. The Gospel calls us right into the middle of life—true life that brings the Kingdom of God down to all of us, so that we all can celebrate God’s goodness and concern for us all. Yes, statements…

First, a short instruction, and then, a short story. The instruction may not be necessary for many of you, but for those who may not be familiar with the Myers Briggs Personal Style Inventory, a brief explanation of what this “Inventory” is all about would probably be helpful. The Myers Briggs “Inventory” is a way…

“May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters.” These words, written by St. Paul to the Christians in Galatia, come coursing down the centuries this morning, a benediction on us from this man of God. And then, being the teacher that he is, Paul gives us some instruction,…

Once Pentecost and Trinity Sunday have passed, the church comes into “Ordinary Time.” For many months now, we will have ample opportunity to explore concretely what the effects are of God’s mighty acts of salvation in our lives together. On this July 4 Sunday, as we celebrate this country’s Independence Day, the Ordinary Time lectionary—in…

No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God. What kind of harsh statement is this? And exclusive, too. How about unrealistic? Undoable? Ridiculous? OK, maybe now we are getting carried away. But when you read this, do you have a nagging question in the…

[Note: One of the joys of the RCL readings is that we get course readings in the Old Testament—such as the Elijah cycle we get this week. Pairing it with the Luke 8 story gives us some new ways of thinking and talking about God and healing.] Elijah and the Gerasene Demoniac are two important…