“The voice of one calling in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” (Mark 1:3)
You know you’re in the season of Advent when John the Baptizer shows up. There he is in all his wilderness glory - clothed with camel’s hair, a leather sash around…
“Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at the your presence - as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil - to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence!” That’s a great prayer to…
A triptych is a panel with three pictures, usually around some related theme. That’s what we’ve had these past three weeks - a triptych of parables. The first was the parable of the bridesmaids, wise and foolish. The faithful were prepared, the foolish figured they had time and oil to spare. …
Fear is one of our greatest paralyzers. Fear of failure. Fear of punishment. Fear of criticism. Fear of condemnation. It can start with a harsh word from a parent; a discouraging criticism from a teacher; a hard and demanding boss. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” goes the saying, and yet working under a shroud of fear,…
“Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Mt 25:13)
We are in the final Sundays of the church year. Today is the third-last. The focus of these three last Sundays is on the end, the last day, the Day of the Lord. Just as there was a beginning, when God created the…
And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” (Revelation 14:13)
There are nine beatitudes (blesseds) in the Sermon on the…
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)
The Word of God, the truth of Christ, the freedom of the Gospel are the cause of our rejoicing on this Reformation Sunday. Reformation Day…
The Pharisees were at it again, plotting to get Jesus tangled up in His own words. They were looking for what Sarah Palin called a “gotcha”. Get Jesus to say something that could be used against him. A sound byte. Slip of the tongue. Get Him to take sides in…
Sometimes you need to lose your religion in order to gain Christ. It sounds strange, I know, but it’s true. Sometimes you have to lose your religion, your view of God, the world, you. Sometimes you have to drop dead to all your preconceptions and funny notions of how God should be…
By what authority are you doing these things and who gave you that authority? Those are the questions on the table in this morning’s Gospel reading. Jesus is challenged by the temple authorities - the chief priests and the elders, the guardians of the religious institution and theological status quo. Who did…