The most remarkable thing about the Christmas story is that it is basically very unremarkable. What is so impressive about it is – that it is so very unimpressive. It is simplicity squared. It is the story of ordinary people caught up in an ordinary event in some very ordinary places. Everything is so earthy. […]
Mary was betrothed to Joseph, a semi-skilled material worker in the small Galilean hamlet of Nazareth. He was much older than she. Customs and status set the guidelines for all such arrangements. Parents or grandparents arranged marriage for their children. It was always a social arrangement and agreement. It was never about love or happiness…or […]
The Lord is with you. (I know in your mind – you just said, “And also with you!” Or, maybe you mouthed the words. Or, even said them out loud! Good job! You know the liturgy…well! But it is not just a part of the liturgy, you know! I believe it to be something that […]
What “if” someone doesn’t live up to your expectations? John expected power. John expected a show of power. John expected a force of power. John expected a lot of power. A lot of people did. John was not alone. John the Baptizer spent his life proclaiming himself hoarse about looking forward to “one” that is […]
Matthew writes this stunning section in his gospel about “unbelief” in Israel. He begins the section by talking about John the Baptizer. John is now in prison. He who once roamed free in the wilderness areas is now bound up. He who walked in the light is now living in almost total darkness. He is […]
John the baptizer is always presented as being a “prophetic figure.” He is more than a “seer.” He is a “spokesman” for God. …From God’s mouth to his ears… That he is dressed like an “Elijah – type – figure” is no coincidence either. Apparently John likes the look…he likes the appeal and the connection. […]
There “can be” a pretentiousness about some religious folks. Because they “are” religious [or] because they “practice” their religious faith – some may think themselves to be “better” than others. Some people “think” they have an exclusive “in” with God. Many a joke has been written about this group or that group that thinks “they […]
It happened near Naples, Italy. There was a little Italian town with a name that sounds something like Bowlwana. It is located in an earthquake zone. Much of Italy is actually located in that self-same earthquake zone. In 1930, fourteen hundred people were killed in a massive earthquake in that same town. Earlier in 1908, […]
IS IT WEIRD to say that God is “reliable” … and yet, at the same time, to say that God is “unpredictable?” We could actually spend some time talking about “God’s reliable unpredictability!” I know these sound like fifty cent huge words – (WHEN YOU ARE HEARING THEM) but they really are not! They sound […]
We are back to John’s Gospel momentarily. Just so you are aware and know: every year of our three-year-lectionary cycle, John has at least a partial role to play. This coming weekend – we will move on to the Year of Matthew, but John will still have a role to play during Matthews’ sojourn. But […]