Andrew Carnegie, at the time the richest man in America, was asked how much money he wanted. His response: “Just a little bit more.” That is almost the default position of our species. We want more than what we have. Russia, already the largest nation on earth, went to war to get more land. Billionaires… Read More »

When Israel was in great straits an angel appeared to Gideon offering words of praise but he challenged the message:  If the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us?  We have all probably thought that at one time or another. In the play Fiddler on the Roof Tevye the milkman looks… Read More »

When I first heard the story of the encounter between Jesus and the rich, young man I imagined a kind of two stage Christianity. What must I do to gain eternal life? Keep the commandments. That would be step one. “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him,… Read More »

In 1988 there were a series of wildfires in Yellowstone National Park – most of them started by lightning. More than 1/3 of the park was destroyed. Naturalists lamented that such wide-spread destruction meant that an entire generation of Americans would not see the Park in its pristine condition. How surprised they were the following… Read More »

“Decide today whom you will serve… As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” There is a strain in American politics called Christian nationalism which, as near as I can tell, wants to establish Christianity as the official religion of the republic. Besides being clean contrary to our national identity, history teaches… Read More »

In our creeds we confess that we believe “in the resurrection of the body,” (not the immortality of the soul!) This credal belief flows from the resurrection of Jesus which we will follow in our turn. Today’s feast, the Assumption of Mary, attests that Mary was raised body and soul into heaven. (According to tradition… Read More »

Forgiveness was a big deal for Jesus. He wove forgiveness into the Lord’s prayer (and appended an additional admonition to fortive  in Matthew’s version.) Yesterday in Luke’s gospel Jesus describes a three step process to ensure forgiveness and reconciliation. When St. Peter pressed him about this: how often must I forgive?  As many as seven… Read More »

Jesus knows the human condition well. As St. Paul puts it he did not “cling” to divinity but instead shared human life completely. Thus, Jesus knows that there will be conflict and division wherever people find themselves. He describes a three step process to move toward reconciliation. First, one on one. Talk to the one… Read More »

Children were important role models for Jesus. He invoked the image of a child to illustrate discipleship in several different manners. For example, Jesus said, “Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.” We can’t become like a child in simplicity or innocence. Instead, Jesus says we must… Read More »

The Lord befriends the alien, feeding and clothing him. So you too must befriend the alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt. What the Bible does NOT say is to befriend only those aliens who have the proper documents. Jesus in the gospel was not someone who flaunted the law.… Read More »