1 Corinthians 11:23-26 & John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Do this in remembrance of me. In Paul’s letter to the Christians in Corinth, we have the earliest mention of the Eucharist, Holy Communion, the Lord’s Supper. Paul was writing almost a generation before the Gospel of John was written, and decades before Mark or Luke or MatthewContinue reading “In Remembrance of Me”
Tag Archives: christianity
For Love’s Sake
Luke 9:28-36, [37-43a] For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved one particular prayer in the prayerbook more than any other. It is found in the Compline liturgy, prayers for the close of the day, which was prayed before bedtime every night at my summer camp growing up and at the end of everyContinue reading “For Love’s Sake”
Winnowing
Luke 3:7-18 There’s nothing like getting called a brood of vipers to really get you in the holiday spirit! The lectionary keeps reminding us that yes, the birth of the Christ Child is just around the corner, but there’s more to the preparations than decorating trees and baking treats. John, the miraculous child of twoContinue reading “Winnowing”
The Truth Reigns
John 18:33-37 This day is a peculiar one in the church calendar. Depending on who you ask, this day is Proper 29, or the 27th Sunday after Pentecost, or Christ the King, or Reign of Christ Sunday. Technically, Christ the King is not a major feast in the Episcopal Church. It is not listed inContinue reading “The Truth Reigns”
Faith at the Margins
Mark 12:38-44 As a person who walks around wearing long robes and prays long prayers in public on a regular basis, I find myself thinking often of this teaching of Jesus. I do like my long robes most of the time, and I appreciate being greeted with respect, and I do think I have oneContinue reading “Faith at the Margins”
Serve Boldly
Mark 10:35-45 Right on the heels of the rich young man’s challenge to let go of all the possessions and privileges that have shaped his life, we encounter two more young men about to learn a hard lesson from Jesus. When picturing the scene, I find it helpful to remember that many of Jesus’s disciplesContinue reading “Serve Boldly”
Freedom in Christ is Free
Mark 10:17-31 “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” The person who asks this question is known as the rich young man, or the rich young ruler. He has the sociocultural trifecta- wealth, youth, and status. He has many possessions, Mark tells us. He also seems to have a fourth important factor-Continue reading “Freedom in Christ is Free”
Welcoming the Child
Mark 9:30-37 One of the best sermons I’ve ever heard preached came from the mouth of a 3 year old. It was in seminary, in the school chapel, on a Thursday night. Normally, that chapel was a pretty intense and intimidating place. It was where we learned to do the dance of liturgy to theContinue reading “Welcoming the Child”
Who will save us?
Mark 8:27-38 Who do people say that Jesus is? A savior, a prophet, a healer, a friend, a sacrificial lamb, a judge, a Messiah, a wisdom teacher, a radical, a revolutionary, a Palestinian Jew, the Son of God, just a really good dude with some good ideas—the list goes on. I’ve even heard questionably earnestContinue reading “Who will save us?”
Being Human, and Being Better at it
Mark 7:24-37 The reality of the incarnation is one of the greatest scandals of history. Not the fact that God came to earth, plenty of deities have done that in mythology from all over the world. Not the fact that a human woman gave birth to a somehow more-than-human child, since of course the mythsContinue reading “Being Human, and Being Better at it”
Mother A Writes 