I have always had a strange affinity to this text. There is something about it – that seemingly draws you in to it. It is comforting. It is reassuring. It takes place on Easter Sunday…the day of the resurrection. It is so common and so ordinary. ….Two guys walking down the road, perhaps toward nightfall. […]
Circa 1960 – Déjà vu! It was like a flashback – weekend… Saturday was Earth Day! In 2020 they will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary… “They say” that when it comes to the planet earth – there is “no time to wait!” Earth Day 2017’s Campaign was all about: “Environmental & Climate Literacy.” Education is […]
The context is this: it is the evening of Easter. The doors had been shut by the disciples because of their fear of the Judeans. “Fear of the Judeans” would have not been unreasonable, (at all) considering that Jesus had just been “crushed” by Judean forces – along with Roman help! Jesus, their master, was […]
I try to check these things out first, so I am relatively sure that the phrase “Damage Control” was not around until the year 1943. It obviously was an expression that came out of – the World War II Era. It means measures taken to “offset” or “minimize damage” to “reputation,” “credibility,” or “public image” […]
We do not normally think of “security issues” in the first century of the Common Era. “Security issues” we think of – as being only a recent development of our time. Not so. “Security issues” have been around for a long-“long time.” Today we think of things like: Cyber crime, hacking, virus’, worms, malware, identity […]
Our Gospel from Matthew this morning reminds us of the central role played by women during the time of Jesus’ ministry. (But then, of course, you already knew that!) Women were present with Jesus during his life, during the darkest moments of the crucifixion and death on Good Friday, and in the first moments of […]
This is actually the story about “three separate” and “different” occurring processionals into the Holy City of Jerusalem. Two of them occurred on the same day. The first procession took place around 167/166 years earlier… But it was held in the common mind, as if – it happened yesterday. The Maccabean army had been achieving […]
Jesus raises a friend who dies and no one quite knows what to make of it. Should Jesus be lauded or condemned, the people were divided. Even though it is not a part of our pericope for tonight, it is important none the less…and important for you to hear the handful of verses that follow […]
Another one of those long stories from John that allows us to be voyeurs and gain insight into Jesus’ interpersonal relationships. The name Lazarus comes from the Hebrew – El’eazer. “Lazarus” is believed to be a “Galilean pronunciation” of El’eazar. And if you will remember – to be “a” Galilean in the fourth gospel, was […]
Here’s mud in your eye! Yeah, I have always wondered about it. I wondered where it came from…and yes, it bothered me. I’ve heard the expression and assumed it had something to do with drinking… This is what I found out: Here’s mud in your eye is used “as a toast.” The speaker is really […]