No one emerges from an illness the same way he or she went in. Even when cured by a miracle of the spirit or by a miracle of medicine, illness changes us.
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Read MoreIs it better to be right or to be good?
It is the question that Paul asks, in a round-about way, of the people of Corinth. And therefore asks us.
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Read MoreOther texts: Mark 1:14-20
Someone said this past week that one thing that Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama had in common was their intense belief in the power of words.
Read MoreSometimes it seems as if our destiny were in our own hands. Sometimes is seems as if we have some control of our future. But usually it isn’t, and usually we don’t. And that can be good news.
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Read MoreOther texts: Wisdom of Solomon 10:15-21, John 1:1-18
We are about to emerge from the season of gifts. Epiphany marks the last of the twelve days of Christmas. As in “On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me.” Did someone give you something that you wanted this season? Did someone give you something you did not want? Some little something that you now have to store away for years. The crystal swan or the napkin holder. The something you cannot throw out or give away because the person who gave it to you loves you and you love that person. Re-gifting, a new word and an old concept, is still a little impolite and shameful. You do not want anyone to see that you have given their gift to someone else. To deny their gift to you would be hurtful and mean and harm your relationship.
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Read MoreDoes God encourage Simeon’s foolish expectations?
The story in the Gospel passage takes place when Jesus is just 40 days old. Brought to the Temple in Jerusalem with his parents, he is seen by Simeon. Simeon took his own faith and its teachings seriously. You would call him religious. He had been told that in his life he would see the coming of the Messiah, a man who would restore Israel to its glorious position as a great and powerful nation. Not one under the thumb of Rome and ruled by petty and corrupt tyrants. When he sees Jesus, Simeon declares that his life’s wait is over. His wait is over. Jesus is the one he expected.
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Read MoreOther texts: Luke 1:47-55
Advent is a season of reflection. At the beginning, we are encouraged to look at our past and our present. What have we been doing? What are we doing now? But gradually over the weeks our view changes. And by today, we find ourselves looking at our present and our future. That’s how scripture leads us. Today we see Christmas just ahead. Once we start talking about Mary and Joseph and angels making announcements, we know that Christmas, and the celebration of the birth of Jesus is the point. And that the reflections that are important are less ours and more Mary’s, who ponders her role as mother of God.
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Read MoreIs Christmas o.k.?
Do we do it wrong? Have we missed the boat on Christmas? Have we got our priorities wrong? Have we forgotten the true meaning of Christmas? Is Christmas o.k.? Or does it need repair?
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Read MoreLots of people were expecting Christ. No one was expecting Jesus.
Lots of people were hoping for a charismatic, powerful man descended from great king David to save the people of Israel. Lots of people were hoping for a wise and powerful prophet to free the people from their oppressors. Lots of people were hoping for a christ, which just means anointed one, a chosen ruler, to restore Israel’s greatness.
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Read MoreCome down, God! O that you would come down! O that you would tear open the heavens and come down!
There is such longing in these words, these words in Isaiah. So much loneliness. These are words of a people abandoned. People left alone. People confused and without direction. You hid yourself, they say, and we have faded like the leaves in the late autumn days. You have hidden yourself from us, they say, and we are blown about by the cold wind.
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