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Mark 13:1-13 / Proper 27B / 18 November 2012 / Holy Trinity - Hacienda Heights, CA Natural disasters. Wars and rumors of wars. False religions. False messiahs. Persecutions. Oh, you thought I was talking about the newspaper this morning. And for all intents and purposes I could have been. But I was actually reviewing this morning Gospel text, the first part of Jesus’ “little apocalypse” from Mark chapter 13. And yet it sounds eerily like the headlines, doesn’t it? Hurricanes, earthquakes, war in the middle east. Hmmmm.

Mark 12:38-44 / Proper 26B / 11 November 2012 / Holy Trinity - Hacienda Heights, CA The theme this morning seems to be widows. The widow at Zarephath with whom the prophet Elijah stayed. The widows whose houses were devoured by the religious scribes who made a big show of their religiosity. And the poor widow who came into the temple courtyard in view of Jesus and His disciples, who dropped two copper pennies into the temple treasury, everything she had.

Mark 10:23-31 / Proper 24B / 21 October 2012 / Holy Trinity - Hacienda Heights, CA If you want a cold dose of reality, read the book of Ecclesiastes. It is a harsh description of the futility of “life under the sun,” the life of riches, pleasure, leisure, everything that we think we want and that would ultimately make us happy. It’s traditionally associated with King Solomon, a man of power, riches, possessions, wealth, wine, women, you name it, Solomon had it. He’d been there, done that, and got the T-shirt. And he summarizes the life of wealth in a single word: Vanity. Emptiness. Nothing. Chasing after the wind.

Mark 10:17-22 / Proper 23B / 14 October 2012 / Holy Trinity - Hacienda Heights, CA The man who came to Jesus was the trifecta of happiness. He was rich. Luke tells us that he was powerful, a ruler. Matthew tells us that he was young. Young, rich, and powerful. That’s what we want. That’s what our society tells us will make us happy. Wealth, health, and power. His wealth and position were likely inherited. In Jesus’ day, you didn’t ordinarily acquire wealth and power at a young age unless you inherited it. And so his question to Jesus makes sense: “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Genesis 2:18-25 / Proper 22B / 7 October 2012 / Holy Trinity - Hacienda Heights, CA The way of faith is to receive the gifts as they come from God. The way of unbelief is to refuse them and look for loopholes to justify our refusal. The Pharisees come to Jesus with a question to test Jesus. So you already know that the question is not an honest one. They want to corner Jesus, trap Him in His own words, get Him to take side, label Him a “liberal” or a “conservative.” “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” What kind of question is that, anyway? Why are you asking? Are you looking to dump your wife? Are you trying to justify yourself and your marital history? Are you trying to condemn someone else? Why would you ask such a thing?

Mark 9:38-50 / Proper 21B / 30 September 2012 / Holy Trinity - Hacienda Heights, CA “Salt is good.” It seasons, it preserves, it tickles the taste buds and stimulates the appetite. Dishes that are not salted taste bland and boring. The first thing that many people do when the steak arrives at the table is shake that salt shaker. Even when the doctors have you on blood pressure meds and tell you to lay off the salt, it’s hard to convince the tongue. Sweet and sour and bitter just don’t taste right without salt.

Mark 9:30-37 / Proper 20B / 23 September 2012 / Holy Trinity - Hacienda Heights, CA There was an apparent change in plans. A new direction for the mission. Jesus was coming down off the mountain where He showed His divine glory to three of HIs disciples - Peter, James, and John. And now for the first time He starts talking about something completely different: His death and resurrection. This was the plan: He was going to be delivered into the hands of men who would kill him. And when He is killed, after three days, He would rise.

Mark 9:14-29 / Proper 19B / 16 September 2012 / Holy Trinity - Hacienda Heights, CA Last week seemed so easy, this week oh so complicated. Last week was almost fun, wasn’t it? Jesus heals a deaf mute by sticking his fingers in his ears, spitting, grabbing his tongue, saying “ephphatha” and that was that. This week, it’s messy, it’s complicated, involving demon possession and the failure of the disciples and unbelief and a Jesus who seems to be packing some attitude.

Mark 7:31-37 / Proper 18B / 9 September 2012 / Holy Trinity - Hacienda Heights, CA Hearing and speaking. They are the input and output channels for words. Words go into ears; words come out of mouths. We learn by hearing and then speaking back what we have heard. We communicate by listening and speaking, hopefully in the right proportions.