The Christian celebration of Christ’s Ascension really hasn’t “caught on” like some of the other feast days of the Church. Even inside the church, today’s Ascension Sunday doesn’t foster too much fond remembrance or spiritual reflection. Sure, Christmas and Easter are big deals. But maybe that’s because the set-up for those two holidays guarantees you’llContinue reading “Stepping into the Void”
Tag Archives: Holy Spirit
Skin in the Game
Three of the four gospels each includes a version of this morning’s Scripture lesson. When the Holy Spirit moves not one, not two, but three Gospel authors – Matthew, Mark and Luke – to add the exact-same scene to their narratives, that’s a reliable sign that the Spirit is putting divine emphasis on a particularContinue reading “Skin in the Game”
What Did Mary Know, and When Did She Know It?
The song asks the honest question, “Mary, did you know?” What did you know, and when did you know it? For some, the lyrics rub the wrong way with the course feeling of mansplaining to Mary, “Hey, did you know your Son wasn’t just some random kid?” The very notion is a non-starter: That MaryContinue reading “What Did Mary Know, and When Did She Know It?”
Enough Already
Words matter, so you need to say it, believe it, and receive it: You are enough. YOU are enough. You ARE enough. You are ENOUGH. If you’re at all like me, you’ve experienced moments, times – or maybe even whole seasons – when you felt as though you weren’t enough. So, just in case youContinue reading “Enough Already”
The Ark Experience
“Look at the ravens!” That was last Sunday’s Gospel challenge to reflection. “Look at the birds! Look at the ravens!” ordered nonother than Jesus. “They neither sow nor reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn. And yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds.” No doubt, for those withContinue reading “The Ark Experience”
How Much More, Then
Since our fiery, razzle-dazzle remembrance of Pentecost last month, Scriptures have been speaking to biblical images and symbols of the Holy Spirit. First came water, with a full-throated invitation to abundant living from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah: “Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. And you who have no money, come, buy andContinue reading “How Much More, Then”
Sober Inebriation
Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus leaves the earth in physical form, and his body returns to heaven, where he sits down in his seat of honor at the right hand of God. That’s the story we heard last Sunday. We were “looking at feet,” as we stood with the apostles and watched Jesus ascendContinue reading “Sober Inebriation”
Staring at Feet
Six weeks ago, we celebrated Easter, and the Gospels proclaim the stories of Jesus appearing to his apostles over the span of 40 days after his resurrection. Luke’s Gospel sees Jesus joining two men traveling a dusty road to Emmaus, and together with them at table, Jesus makes himself known in the breaking of bread.Continue reading “Staring at Feet”
Surprise, Surprise, Surprise
Children see the world differently. For a toddler, a caterpillar is a miracle. For a kindergartener, a tall pine is a modern marvel. For any kid wearing galoshes, water is as much for joy as it is for survival. Then, somewhere in our childhood – in adolescence, maybe – peer pressure mounts to outgrow suchContinue reading “Surprise, Surprise, Surprise”
No Other Gods before Me
Over the years, I’ve preached sermon series on any number of themes, but for no reason in particular, the one topic I haven’t touched in depth is the Ten Commandments. So, for the next 10-or-so weeks, we’re going to be unpacking that list of do’s and don’ts – given by God to Moses, aContinue reading “No Other Gods before Me”