A Positively Poetic Priest

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Second Sunday of Easter BCP 224) Alleluia! Jesus Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia! It is so easy to say these words. It always evokes a happy emotional response for me. Even after years of celebrating Easter, this news always makes me feel lighter. Yay! Alleluia! It is also wonderful to see people who don't normally attend church or think about God take a moment to celebrate the miracle of love that God has done in Jesus' resurrection on Easter morning.  The kicker, of course, always comes with the second week of Easter. After we are all tired from eating ham or lamb leftovers and are fully loaded up on...

"So they [Mary Magdalene and the other Mary] left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples." (Matthew 28:1-10) The first Easter Sunday was not the glorious celebration we are used to having. The first Easter Sunday was a few women and men who were absolutely confused, frightened, and a little bit hopeful. The first Easter Sunday dawned sad and grief stricken by the early disciples. Their teacher and loving friend was dead and they were afraid and didn't know what to do. But the women did what women always do, they took care of the business at hand. They went to Jesus' tomb to prepare his body for proper burial. Only, he wasn't there, which was outright confusing and frightening all on its own, not to mention the earthquake and the angel speaking to them. I think it is helpful to remember the real Easter morning story this year. We are not in a place to be able to celebrate wholeheartedly. We cannot laugh off the care...

4/6/18 Alleluia! Christ is Risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia! Easter is a joyful season of resurrection and new life. However, many find new life kind of disconcerting at first. The transition into something new is not always very easy. Easter is a time of celebration, yet sometimes celebration requires being gentle and compassionate with yourself and those around you. Welcoming the happy new morning each day in the spirit of Easter does take practice... and luckily, we have a whole fifty day season of Easter to work on celebrating this Good News! Not one chance, not two chances, but fifty chances. Living into new life does not happen over night, every morning we have a new chance to celebrate the new life begun in us through Jesus Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!

the street preacher goes on and on about Jesus and the girl nonchalantly nods along focusing on other things but something catches her ear about redemption - a feeling she's only dreamed of unknowingly subconscious wish for good "yo - what's that?" she says wondering if perhaps a few questions might be answered for the trouble on the corner "Jesus was a man - the Son of God and he died, he died for all" "Stupid, why'd he do that?" "because of love," he said, "because of love" "shut up" she said, "no one's that dumb" no one loves me that much the demons in her head confirmed why bother for this life? "oh no, Jesus did. Died for you, died for me. Died so that we might know love. Do you know love?" he questioned wondering whether he could even answer the girl looked at him in concern know love? what is love? and who's this crazy man who loves these cranky p...