There is no them

I believe that today’s story found in The Gospel of Luke is one of the greatest, most powerful and effective stories recorded in history. It’s brilliance stems in no small part in the way it invites us to see ourselves in the three characters of the story. Forgive me now for making assumptions, but I think that I speak the truth in saying that we have all had times, like the younger son, where we feel that the combination of our choices and circumstances have led us to feeling lost, abandoned, and hopeless. I think it’s also likely that we have had times, like the elder son, where we have felt deserving, over-worked, under-appreciated, and resentful of someone getting celebrated for doing less, nothing, or even wrong. And I also think that it’s likely that we have found ourselves in the place of the forgiving father, where whatever disappointment or hurt we have in someone is negated by the possibility of new life and fresh beginning, and we generously act out of that possibility. By c...

Most of you know by now that we have a lectionary cycle, assigning readings for each Sunday to all Episcopal Churches, and that every three years we get the texts repeated. I usually read the texts for Sunday on Monday or Tuesday.   About midweek, I open what I previously wrote and preached three, six, or even nine years ago.   I do this to help form my current thoughts, and often I pull ideas, sections, and quotes from the past. This is one of those texts where I feel obligated to preach much of my sermon from last time, because the subject is so relevant, and so critical for this moment in time.   We were even talking about this in Thursday’s Gospel of Mark Bible study.   Why do bad things happen to good people?   Did some sin cause the situation they find themselves in? This week, the lectionary writers really knew what they were doing by placing Exodus 3:1-15, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, and Luke 13:1-9 together .   We begin with Moses, a figure who historic...

On this first Sunday in Lent, we go back to an earlier moment in Luke's Gospel.  After Jesus was baptized, but before speaking publicly, he went off into the wilderness by himself.   People usually spend extended time in the wilderness for one of two things:   seeking or sorting.   “Seeking” involves an epiphany:   an eye-opening moment, transformation or deep insight.   “Sorting” suggests that the moment has already happened, but one needs to go off to be alone to sort things out, find direction, and next the next steps to take.   Jesus, in his baptism, had his epiphany:   “You are my beloved Son.   With you I am well pleased.”   Whether it’s incarnation or confirmation (pending on the particular Gospel and one’s interpretation), it’s clear that Jesus goes into the wilderness to sort, not to seek. Full of the Holy Spirit, Jesus goes into the wilderness to sort out what he is to do:   what kind of beloved Son will he be?   What...

The reaction to the reality that Lent begins this week, among family, friends, and even parishioners, has been “Really?   Already?” I feel that way too, even thought Lent is pretty close to as late on the calendar as it can be.   WIth all that is going on in the world:   people losing jobs, research being slashed, aid being withheld, and support for an aggressor over an invaded country…it seems like time is both standing still and marching out of control.   I think it is important that we consider how we might enter Lent at this time and place. Lent has always been meant to be a healthy and holistic part of our Christian calendar cycle.   More so than New Year resolutions, Lent involves an intentionality to hear, see, and act differently in the midst of individual and communal lifespan.   Diana Butler Bass writes that Lent is not about self-doubt or about self-blame for the current state of affairs. Instead, Lent can be a time to spiritually, mentally, and ...