May 19, 2024
PENTECOST SUNDAY Acts 2:1-11 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 John 20:19-23 Art and literature are filled with stories of a quest: Odysseus trying to get home, Dante on the way to paradise, Frodo and the ring, Luke Skywalker looking for his father. The theme of a quest is not limited to the realm of fiction but… Read More »
May 12, 2024
ASCENSION OF THE LORD – B Acts 1:1-11 Ephesians 4:1-13 Mark 16:15-20 On a beautiful Spring Day, maybe in 1970, the seminary decided to have the Ascension Thursday mass outdoors. They set up the altar, brought out the guitars (very 70s) and prepared the bread and wine. There was one surprising element: helium balloons. When… Read More »
April 28, 2024
FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER – B Acts 9:26-31 1 John 3:18-24 John 15:1-8 There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Talk is cheap. Deeds, not words. If you’re going to talk the talk you’ve got to walk the walk. Actions speak louder than words. The philosophers have only interpreted the world; the point is… Read More »
April 21, 2024
FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER –B Acts 4:8-12 1 John 3:1-2 John 10:11-18 The image of Christ as the Good Shepherd is one of the most endearing of Christian icons. Think of how many funerals where we have sung the 23rd Psalm: “the Lord is my shepherd.” All of this despite the fact that most… Read More »
March 31, 2024
EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD Acts 10:34, 37-43 Colossians 3:1-4 John 20:1-9 Despite the conventional wisdom, seeing is NOT believing. The unreliability of eye-witnesses is well known in the court room. Research shows that 75% of false convictions are caused by an inaccurate eyewitness statement. In our time when there are deep… Read More »
March 30, 2024
HOLY SATURDAY Exodus 14:15-15:1 Romans 6:3-11 Mark 16:1-7 There is a wonderful song in Fiddler on the Roof. “God would like us to be joyful Even though our hearts lie panting on the floor; How much more can we be joyful, When there’s really something To be joyful for. To life, to life, L’chai-im! L’chai-im,… Read More »
March 29, 2024
PASSION OF THE LORD Isaiah 52:13-53:12 Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9 John 18:1-19:42 Children are always asking “why?” Why is the sky blue? Why do I have to eat vegetables? Why can’t I stay up until 10 o’clock? Of course those “why” questions might change over time but seeking a “why,” seeking a reason, looking for an… Read More »
March 24, 2024
PALM (PASSION) SUNDAY Mark 11: 1-10 Isaiah 50:4-7 Philippians 2:6-11 Mark 14:1-15:47 The show stopping anthem in the play, A Chorus Line, is “What I did for love.” The singer reflects on all of the sacrifices, all of the losses, all of the injuries, all of the life events she missed out on because of… Read More »
March 17, 2024
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT – A Ezekiel 37:12-14 Romans 8:8-11 John 11:1-45 There is the occasional athlete who, after winning the championship, will say something like, “I want to give God the glory.” Or maybe it is the recording star at the Grammys who says, “Not to us, but to God give the praise.” Perhaps… Read More »
March 10, 2024
FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT — A 1 Samuel 16:1,6-7,10-13 Ephesians 5:8-14 John 9:1-41 There was a psychological experiment where participants were told to watch a video of people passing around basketballs. The researchers asked those watching to count how many times people in the white shirts passed the basketball to one another. In the middle… Read More »
