And the award for “Miss Congeniality” goes to all five of the “foolish bridesmaids!” They were stellar! If I had been one of them, I would have made the suggestion that we share a lamp…combine our oils…and walk two by two… And if that didn’t work, I would have convinced the “other four” to become […]
Let’s talk about sharing, caring and showing simple kindness… What kind of person are you? What kind of personality traits do you exhibit? In the gospel text before us today – sometimes called the “Wise and Unwise Virgins” or otherwise known as “The Ten Bridesmaids…” I have a little bit of different take on it… […]
Palestinian weddings were different. They happened at night…when the work of the day was completed. The bridegroom would go to the bride’s parent’s house and get the bride. It would be one last and final opportunity to haggle over the dowry-price with his future father-in-law. Then he would bring his bride to his father’s house, […]
What we have before us this evening is -yet another story of challenge and continued confrontation… For the record, this is the third time in a matter of weeks… The “powers that be” – are amp-ing up their attempts to entrap Jesus. In one fell swoop Jesus was able to amaze and silence the Pharisees […]
I am thinking about the Word of God. I am thinking about “how” it got here to us…to you…to me…today. For sure it has been one “incredible-and-unbelievable” journey. Consider this: Jesus spoke these words 2,000 years ago on a mountain-side. He was addressing a multitude of different people. They were of every race, class, color […]
I have been praying that you would be blessed for being in worship on this night. It is after all – our names sake. I have been very aware of our worshiping together on this night for a couple of weeks now. It has a kind of strange attraction for me. An allure… It is […]
The Gospel text for today shimmers and gleams with controversy. We forget sometimes, just how controversial a figure – Jesus really-truly was. Controversy surrounded him from the beginning of his life, up to and including – his death and resurrection. So, we should not at all be surprised that the “good news” about him and […]
April 15th is a long way off…Thank God, I mean who among us is ready for another tax season and filing? Were you aware that the Titanic sunk on April 15th? Were you aware that Abraham Lincoln was shot on April 15th? I tell you – it is not a very good day. I am […]
Forgive me for this one. It goes way back in time before any of you were even born…or thought of… I am going all the way back to the year 1979…yeah – I know…practically the “ice age”…humankind as we know it, had just started learning how to use tools…and ventured out of deep, dark, dank […]
Again, context is everything. These two groups were not natural allies. The Herodians supported the “rule of Herod” who cooperated with the Roman rulers and oppressors – and he was actually given his authority by them. Herod was in Rome’s pocket. He was their puppet, their stooge, their lackey and their pawn… The Pharisees on […]