The message of God’s graceisn’t just foolishness,like the message of the cross.It’s offensive to those of uswho consider ourselves righteous –righteous in any sphere.Jesus spends much of Chapter 14 of Luketalking about table fellowship.Chapter 15, where we start today,has Jesus showing full acceptance and loveof tax collectors and sinnersas he eats with them.The righteous –the […]
March 30: The Fourth Sunday in Lent Read More »
O God, you are our God. Eagerly we seek you. Our souls thirst for you, our flesh faints for you, as in a parched and barren land. Refresh your church. Revive your church with living water Bless, we pray, our presiding bishop, Sean; our bishop, Phil; and our priest, Joseph. We pray for the Anglican
March 23: Weekly Prayers Read More »
Who sinned:This man, or his parents?That’s not the question presented to Jesus today,but it’s in the same vein.Galileans and Jerusalemiteshave both suffered as Jesus is speaking.There’s an undercurrentthat the Galilean bumpkinsaren’t as good at following Godas their cousinswho have much quicker,easier access to the temple. But when Jesus is asked about them,he reminds the crowds
March 23: The Third Sunday in Lent Read More »
O God, we pray for all people in their daily life and work. For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone. For this community, the nation, and the world. For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace. For the just and proper use of your creation. For the victims of
March 16: Weekly Prayers Read More »
As Paul writes to the Philippians,he’s been imprisoned.A lot of peoplehave a lot of complaints about Paul.I understand them.I especially understand themin the kind of textualist fundamentalismthat pervades American and Western culturewhere we only want to look at the words on the pageand not who wrote them,when they wrote themor what they were writing about.This
March 16: The Second Sunday in Lent Read More »
After his baptism, Jesus,full of the Holy Spirit,returned from the Jordanand was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,where for forty dayshe was tempted by the devil.Jesus has been fastingfor forty dayswhen we get these three specific temptations.The devil,the one waging waragainst the goodness of God’s creation,appeals to Jesus’ humanityon more than one level.He attacks
March 9: The First Sunday in Lent Read More »
Every year we mark our faceswith the dryness of ashin the place where we’ve receivedand at least one child will receive at Easterfragrant oil in the shape of a cross.Every year we hear Jesus warnabout looking dismal and disfiguring our facesshowing others that we’re fasting.Every year I get to remind God’s people,that getting ashes isn’t
March 5: Ash Wednesday Read More »
God of glory and freedom, we pray for your church, its members, and its mission. When we come down from the mountain, help us listen to you. God of glory and freedom, we pray for Trinity Parish, Seattle and Church of the Apostles, Seattle. When we come down from the mountain, help us listen to
March 2: Weekly Prayers Read More »
“This is a mountaintop experiencebut not the kind about which personswrite glowingly of sunrises,soft breezes,warm friends,music,and quiet time.On this mountain the subject is death,and the frightening presence of Godreduces those present to silence.”That’s how Fred Craddockwraps up his commentaryon this gospel passage from Luke.The gospel text todaytakes place about a weekafter Peter says that Jesus
March 2: The Last Sunday after the Epiphany Read More »
We pray to you, O God, for the church of Jesus Christ throughout the world. Bless our presiding bishop, Sean; our bishop, Phil; and our vicar, Joseph. We pray for the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil; and for the faith communities of St. Matthew’s/San Mateo and St. Michael’s, Auburn; and St. Elizabeth’s, Burien. We ask
February 23: Weekly Prayers Read More »