Praying with the Spirit

Romans 8:12-17 I did not truly learn how to pray until I was a young adult. I grew up in a Christian home, I went to my family’s Episcopal Church every Sunday, I attended youth group and Christian summer camp, I loved church and the prayerbook and I listened to the sermons as best IContinue reading “Praying with the Spirit”

There Will Be Life

Ezekiel 37:1-14 Mortal, can these bones live? O Lord God, you know. The vision of Ezekiel reads like a ghost story, or the plot of a zombie movie. Ezekiel finds himself in a vast valley, and as far as the eye can see, the ground is covered with bones. These bare skeletons are everywhere, andContinue reading “There Will Be Life”

The Story Continues

Mark 16:1-8 And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. Can you imagine if the Bible had ended here? For some early listeners, it apparently did. The oldest authorities we have end the story here, with the first half of verse 8. Later versions extend the story by three more verses, and evenContinue reading “The Story Continues”

Why Should We Not Imitate Him?

John 18:1-19:42 So far, this Church year has felt in many ways like a very long Good Friday. Multiple horrific mass casualties, an ongoing genocide of an entire people who share a homeland with our Lord, violence raging in the Sudan, a humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, personal losses and illnesses onContinue reading “Why Should We Not Imitate Him?”

Love Takes the Risk

John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Once upon a time, a white straight Christian minister invited a Black gay actor to cool his feet in a wading pool on a hot day. After sharing a few moments of relaxation together, their feet side by side in a small plastic pool, the white man shared his towel with theContinue reading “Love Takes the Risk”

Anointed

Mark 14:1-15:47 We are all familiar with the Last Supper, the final meal that Jesus shared with his friends the night he was betrayed, the meal we remember on Maundy Thursday and every time we share the Eucharist. But did you ever notice that there’s also a First Supper? Our Lenten study group spent anContinue reading “Anointed”