Thanksgiving Day in the US, while not a religious holiday, does have religious overtones. In fact, I believe that thanksgiving, gratitude, is one of the foundation stones of a spiritual life. The other, surprisingly, is freedom.  I came to this understanding doing a retreat at Auburn University. I asked “when did you feel the love… Read More »

The readings assigned for today are tragedy and triumph. Jesus speaks of the suffering that all too often is our lot in life. “They will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over… You will be hated by all.”  John the Seer has a vision of the final triumph of God. On the sea… Read More »

The angel swung his sickle over the earth and cut the earth’s vintage. He threw it into the great wine press of God’s fury. As the song put it, “He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.” The talk of the Bible about the end times continues to fascinate believers… Read More »

I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of rushing water or a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. They were singing what seemed to be a new hymn before the throne. St. John uses images to help us think about what the life… Read More »

Currently playing at the Cadillac Theater downtown is a dramatization of the film The Lion King. It is a completely enjoyable musical with great staging, wonderful acting and memorable songs. In one song the young lion is imagining what it is going to be like once he grows up and becomes king. “I just can’t… Read More »

The Book of Revelation is notoriously difficult to interpret. As a result, throughout the ages people have imposed onto the text something that they want the text to mean instead of trying to unpack what the author, John the Seer intended the text to mean. The Book of Revelation has nothing to say about atomic… Read More »

I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and swallowed it. In my mouth it was like sweet honey, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. The world of God is sweet — it speaks of love, compassion, forgiveness, generosity, hope. However, living out that word is costly. It requires that… Read More »

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it. Some times all you can do is cry. A child with an incurable disease, a young couple that can’t get pregnant, a beloved parent slipping into dementia — these and hundreds of more situation leave one feeling powerless. All you can do… Read More »

In his vision of heaven John the Seer sees the throne of God. In the center and around the throne, there were four living creatures. The first creature resembled a lion, the second was like a calf, the third had a face like that of a man, and the fourth looked like an eagle in… Read More »

“‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.” There is a famous painting of this saying from the Book of Revelation. Jesus is holding a lamp and knocking at the door. The… Read More »