The Revised Common Lectionary cuts out “Judge not, lest ye be judged”. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount features in Year A’s season after Epiphany. Like many other blocks of teaching, the RCL chops the block into smaller bits, leaving some texts on the cutting room floor. I can understand redacting Judges 19 or swaths of Levitical code. But ‘Judge not’ is quintessential Jesus. Luke’s parallel … Continue reading On Not Judging Not
“Consider the lilies of the field! They neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.” This is a political, social, economic and moral statement. (See passage here) ‘Consider’—more like ‘Behold!’—means pay attention to what is already around you. Open your eyes! Eureka! I’ve found it! We live with our eyes half open. … Continue reading Page One: The Lilies of the Field
Note: I have a file of things that I have written that never made it to their original destination. Usually, these are impassioned defenses of something I believe, in which I find my own statements too strong. Every now and then, I will go through this file and read these things. In January, as I am reorganizing my files, I came across something I wrote that I wanted to … Continue reading I Love the UMC
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will … Continue reading Page One: Matthew’s Beatitudes
A. has a hard time going to sleep sometimes. I pick-up the guitar and she quickly finds a reason to calm down. One of my most important modes of expression is for her a de-stressor. Our current lullaby of choice is Running on Faith by Eric Clapton. Some years ago, I borrowed the Journeyman album from my brother and just got hooked on the song. … Continue reading Soul Music
I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by … Continue reading On the 12th Day of Christmas
How can I love my enemy, as Jesus commands? A lot of human division is a matter of focusing on that which divides us. No matter how great or small the matter that keeps us from loving one another may be, one fact (Truth) that remains is that my enemy is human just like me. Jesus refocuses our attention, for by entering human flesh, he … Continue reading On the 11th Day of Christmas
In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I … Continue reading On the 10th Day of Christmas
For a take on the counter-cultural aspect of Christmas, please see this article by Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove. Continue reading On the 9th Day of Christmas
Apparently, there are eight blessings in the Beatitudes: Blessed are the poor in spirit, Blessed are the meek, Blessed are those that mourn, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, Blessed are the merciful, Blessed are the pure in heart, Blessed are the peacemakers, Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake Found this at The Voice. Continue reading On the 8th Day of Christmas
