A Positively Poetic Priest

A priest friend of mine once joked around that I could write a poem about anything, including a phone book. So, I took him up on the challenge. It was written last summer and recently shared with the challenger, and deemed an acceptable completion. A 2009 Phone Book, Uncovered rows of digits only making sense with the code the names and people categorized by alphabet a distinction made up by label we have waited years for a general anethestic to kill the pain of trying to understand the differences in name, in label strung out in columns upon the page who are we and why and how the steady numbered rows lack clarity what is the code? what is the relation? to each abbreviated formation Jones, Edward Jones, Edward D&Co Jones, Elizabeth       Emmett J Jones, Florenz H       Forrest       Fred A       Fred A Jr.       Gayle & Jeffrey       ...

Its a cliche to talk about diamonds having many facets. However, what we find in the gospel stories is Jesus like a diamond. Many faceted, shining brightly, with God's flame in the center. One of the ways this is evident is to read all the different gospel stories. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all present different views on who Jesus was as a man and as the Son of God. In Matthew, Jesus is very much the Jewish Messiah. Jesus came to save the people of Israel, and was very focused on the reform of the Jewish synagogues and fulfillment of Jewish scriptures. In Mark, Jesus is the suffering servant Son of Man from Isaiah, fulfilling the scriptures, not just for the Jewish people, but also for the Gentiles. In John, Jesus is depicted much more as a divine presence in the world, very theological, very spiritual, and very in tune with the overarching story of the whole scriptures. In Luke, Jesus is deeply compassionate, focused on caring for the poor, the marginalized, the broken,...

I cannot imagine the state of being  Jesus is in  during his time in the wilderness. I myself know what it has been like during wilderness times in my own life times of struggle, confusion, and tension. The wilderness always involves emotional and spiritual tension. Jesus goes from being a carpenter in a small town in Galilee, working with his earthly father, Joseph maybe with brothers learning the trade of repair and creating out of wood A good business keeping him busy And then he takes a small journey down to the Jordan River. He meets his cousin John again and asks him to baptize him. As he is coming up, he hears this voice A voice different than any other voice which speaks to him and names him and claims him "You are my son." Naturally,  I always sort of picture this happening as it does in The Lion King... the rolling thunder, the voice coming out of the cloud Simba, you are my son. His naming and claiming also come...

2/15/18 As many of you know by now, we are participating in a national program going on this season of Lent, which will continue into the season of Easter. The Good Book Club  is a program of reading the books of Luke and Acts all the way through during these two seasons. The easiest way to follow along with the readings everyday is to follow the Forward Day by Day, a daily reflection booklet which you can pick up at the church. Forward Day by Day also have a podcast, an app, a daily email, and daily updates on Facebook and Twitter. So no matter how you interact with the world best, you can follow the readings and reflections. At St. John's, we will be adding to the daily readings an Adult formation series which will highlight certain passages throughout the seasons and provide a place for discussion and questions about the books and the events in the books. I hope you will join us at 9 am on Sundays to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the Good News. If you really want...

What strikes me from the Gospel passage today is about this notion of privacy. Perhaps this is simply because I am a millennial. For long as I have been alive, computers have been connecting together in networks. I grew up with social media. The online world where everything and anything is shared and all too often, unfortunately, people have a tendency to joke that if it isn't on social media then it really hasn't happened. The notion of privacy is a shadow of what it once was. Everything has to be known, or at least accessible, in case someone wants to know it. So the idea that I could go to church or spend money or not eat without anyone knowing is almost a novelty. However, privacy is an important aspect of true relationship. All relationships have those aspects which are shown to the public and then those aspects which are kept between each other. Couples always have private aspects to their relationship and what set of best friends do you know that ...

As a story, the story of the Transfiguration from Mark is a good one. There is symmetry. There is a mystery. There is tradition! There is confusion and terror and loss and excitement and love. And some extra special supernatural miracles. Everything you need for a good story. On one side of the scene,  we have Peter, James, and John. We all know Peter, James, and John. Peter, the classic tragic mess up clown, who always puts his foot into his mouth at just the wrong moment. But who, in the end, becomes the foundation of the church. James and John, the sons of Zeebedee, whose mother comes to Jesus because they, and she, wants them to be the highest ranking officials  after Jesus, one on his right and one on his left. Three men whose humanity  was very well known. On the other side of the scene, we have Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. Which is interesting. The story sets them up as the prophets they are. Jesus...

9/8/16 Light growing up in a church I watched the light change through the windows stained glass colors dappling the floors, the pews, the people subjectively messing up sense and clear-eyed objectivity and as the light moved I learned new lessons found layers I had not known existed and as I learned to love I found those colored layers walking through the world what could not always be seen from the front would make their grand appearance when the light moved ere so slightly suddenly the angel's white wings were aglow with purple

2/8/18 Joy Joy: (talking to herself) Yes, Joy? Joy: You'll be in charge of the console, keeping Riley happy all day long. And may I add I love your dress, it's adorable. [Joy begins to happily twirl around] Joy: Oh, This ol' thing? Thank you so much, I love the way it twirls... - Disney Pixar's Inside Out Joy is deeper than happiness. Joy is a deep seated calm emotion which underlies other emotions and moods throughout the day. Its a way of living in gratitude and relationship with God. Happiness comes and goes throughout our lives, but joy endures, despite hardships. Joy is the foundation which allows people to be content, to thrive, to be pleasant even when bad things are happening in their lives. You can find the word joy over three hundred times in the English NRSV of the Bible. From the beginning to the end, joy is present throughout the scriptures. People sing with joy, people dance in joy, people enjoy the fruits of their labor, God blesses...

Imagine with me for a moment You spend your childhood in slavery always doing what someone else tells you to do always being put down always hungry hungry for food hungry for more in life and then in a swirl of events you and your family run away from everything you've grown up knowing you walk through a sea seeing sights you'd never imagine surrounded by fearful, confused, excited people hoping desperately for freedom. Imagine growing up wandering with those people living in tents in the desert searching for water, for food, for shelter. Being told you're now free but still only barely managing to live. Imagine everyday getting closer to good land where there is plenty of water and food wood to build shelters. Imagine fighting with everything you have to be able to live in that good land moving around to find the space to settle down. Imagine finally being able to live freely to be able to have your own house to h...