A Positively Poetic Priest

Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Fifth Sunday of Easter BCP 225) "Rain, rain, go away, come again another day..." I am not sure why we tell rain to come again another day in this well-known children's song. We rarely want rain to come. Rain makes everything soggy and dampens moods. It puts outdoor events on hold and makes the sky look dreary. With all these side effects, why would we want rain to come again?  Thankfully, rain does come again. Because we need the rain. We need the water for our environment, we need the break in our own hectic pace, we need the reminder to water ourselves (whether with literal water or those things which make us sp...

How far can you journey at the moment? With everything on lock-down, we may be talking your biggest journey today is the one from the bed to the couch. Or perhaps you have gotten out for a drive or a walk in the fresh air.  I've been trying to get outside for a run, walk, or bike ride everyday, which is easier some days than others.  Lent can be a hard time and sometimes we forget we are on a journey especially since  most of us aren't journeying anywhere right now. We are staying at home. But even at home, we are on a journey. In my house, I sometimes forget where things are because it so big, and when I walk into the rooms I don't use very often,  its a whole journey of rediscovery! I find things I forgot I had. But even at home, we are on a journey. The season of Lent is always a journey. A journey through repentance, confession, reconciliation, renewal. A journey with God of self-discovery through our Lenten ...

Teacher, "In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be?" Why do they need to know whose wife this poor woman will be? Hasn't she gone through enough hassle already? Seven husbands??? Give the poor woman a break! Jesus was such a storyteller its not often we hear him going through the paces with  legal logistical argumentative proofs. However, if you remember your ancient Greek rhetoric at all (which I totally understand if you don't...) you'll notice what the Sadducees are doing  and how Jesus responds in kind. The Sadducees who speak to Jesus are using a case study to prove that there is no resurrection. The Sadducees were a group who didn't believe in resurrection, they didn't believe in an afterlife. Yet, they know Jesus does believe in resurrection, he keeps teaching and preaching about the kingdom of God. So they decide to take him on in some old style debating.  They offer a proof that ...

"Mommy! Look at me!" "Daddy! Watch this!" "Gram! Did you see what I did there??" Or perhaps you've heard the adult version, "Dude, hold my beer."  You know, when you hear one of these phrases someone wants your attention and they want it right now because they are going to do something they think is pretty cool. Naturally, what counts as pretty cool is a wide variety,  mostly depending on the context and age of the person speaking. However, we all know the longing for someone to pay attention to us. God created us as relational beings  and part of being in relationship is sharing our focus with other people. And we all certain know what it is like to want someone else's attention and not get it.  At first glance,  to us today, this is how the Gospel passage from Luke looks. The Samaritans can tell that Jesus is focused on other things. It seems like they want his attention and he isn...

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!