Sunday, June 23, 2019
The encounter between Jesus and the Gerasene demoniac means a lot to me. I see myself in this man—not that I run around naked among the tombs, but I have let other forces sway me. No matter what I did, or whatever steps I took to change things, I would “be driven by...
Saturday, June 22, 2019
Luke writes about the apostles’ testimony during the beginning months and years of the early church, and that whole testimony hinges on one thing: the resurrection of Jesus. The apostles speak and act with great power and grace rests upon them. Today, some folks place...
Friday, June 21, 2019
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I have a friend who, when involved in a conversation, always listens first. He waits, listens, observes—and when he does speak, it is almost always something worth saying. This ability to listen is a bea….(View this...
Thursday, June 20, 2019
Jesus is not pulling punches when he denounces the ostentation of the scribes in the temple, and then graciously acknowledges the widow’s offering. No one greets this little old lady with respect in the marketplace. When she prays, she does not use fancy flowery...
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
We call them “leaps of faith,” and they represent the physical manifestation of risk, effort, hope, and belief all in one swift motion. Many of us find it easier to keep our feet on the ground, raising the same kinds of questions as the Sadducees. S….(View this...
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
Members of Washington National Cathedral marched in the June 9 Capital Pride Parade in Washington, D.C. Photo: Danielle E. Thomas/Washington National Cathedral [Episcopal News Service] The full inclusion of LGBTQ people in the life of The Episcopal Church had barely...
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
As a neurosurgeon, it is very easy to have an ego that gets in the way of being rightly related to God. Ego gets in the way of living a life that has God at the center because it wants to be the center. The psalm reading today makes me mindful of this fact. The...
Monday, June 17, 2019
We could approach the parable of the wicked tenants in several ways, but I like to focus on the fact that the tenants do not actually own the land. They only work it, which reminds me of a hymn I love.We give thee but thine own,….(View this reading and more...
Sunday, June 16, 2019
When I think about the Creator of the universe holding me in one hand and pouring love into me with the other hand, everything else seems trivial. Sure, I have bad moments and go through difficult times, but I have God’s love actually pouring into my heart....
Saturday, June 15, 2019
The chief priests, scribes, and elders come to Jesus and ask him all sorts of aggressive questions. Why can’t they just stop for a moment and listen to the message Jesus presents? The reason: Pride, plain and simple. The good news Jesus consistently teaches strips...