28 December 2008
Two thousand years ago, Bethlehem became a very special stop on the way, but it was only a temporary stop, not a final destination. Everyone in the Christmas story soon went forth and left Bethlehem far behind. We have no record if Jesus ever returned to visit his birthplace.
Christmas 2008
Tonight there are as many questions in the air as there are notes to the carols we sing. However, Christmas always tells us that it is OK to have questions. People of faith are people who are not afraid to wonder about the angel’s message, to endure the journey to the Bethlehem of their world, and say openly in front of the stable, “I don’t know.”
30 November 2008
Advent isn’t urging us to go around these four weeks with dour looks on our faces. Yet it does warn us not to trade the vision of God’s future for humanity for resignation to a earth as it is now; not to substitute the blessings of Christ’s coming to live among us with the solutions of a current ideology, and lastly, not to exchange genuine prophecy, pregnant with meaning for our time, for a seasonal epidemic of denial and escapism.
23 November 2008
Many of us in our lives out in the world want the opportunity to make the difference in our field or profession or family. We want to be in control and in charge and we want God to notice us and at least keep track of our good deeds.
16 November 2008
Jesus told his parable of the talents, not knowing about reverse swaps and repurchase agreements, and sophisticated derivatives. It wasn’t about attempting to accumulate more assets at all. Jesus was talking about the gifts of the spirit, gifts such as love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, patience, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.
9 November 2008
As Jesus’ parable of the ten bridesmaids seems to indicate, the ramifications over running out of oil have been with us a long time. However, the lesson of this parable is not about having enough petroleum reserves or even about sharing or conserving them. It is about being willing to face the responsibilities that come with living as a person of faith.
2 November 2008
The wonderful gift of history and tradition, is precisely what gives Christians roots, stability, breadth, and depth. It is what gives us a whole spectrum of options that so many in contemporary society sadly do not have. Contemporary society has so little of what might be called cultural or even institutional memory. For many in the world, their lives are just isolated private affairs, unrelated to a large whole. “Me, myself, and mine” is the only declension of reality they know. That’s the tyranny of modern society’s worship of individualism.
26 October 2008
The biblical tradition is quite clear. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.” There are many opportunities around us that offer the illusion of truth instead of truth itself, and there are many advertisements for spiritual comfort food that offer an illusion of food rather than real food itself. God never promises that living as a disciple will put us behind the wheel of the world’s fastest car with a clear view of the open road of the future, and the most adjustable and comfortable seat to boot.
19 October 2008
The question posed to Jesus about the lawfulness, according to the Torah, of paying the Roman tax was, of course, a trap. If Jesus indicated it was against the Torah to pay the tax, some of his opponents would accuse him of exciting sedition against the authorities and urge the Romans to bring Jesus up on charges. If Jesus approved of the tax, it would alienate those who despised the tax and the foreign oppressors to whom it was paid. Jesus avoided the trap, but no minds were changed.
12 October 2008
Today’s Gospel seems to be a combination of two stories. The first is about God’s invitation to humanity and tragically humanity often makes light of or refuses it. The biblical history readily admits that there is a long record of people called to be people of faith, who reject their heritage, toss out their prophets and scorn their wisest teachers.
5 October 2008
Jesus’ parable of the wicked tenants of the vineyard, who not only did not respect the true owner of the vineyard, but also in effect tried to claim ownership of the vineyard by eliminating any presence of the owner, was obviously a sharp criticism of many of the religious officials of Jesus’ time. He is making the point that these officials covered up or subverted the true intentions of God and substituted their own selfish agenda instead.
28 September 2008
In today’s Gospel Jesus confronts a group of his opponents who had resisted and completely closed their minds to the message of John the Baptist. They are not interested in understanding Jesus’ message either; they just want Jesus to be silenced. Jesus replies with the story of a man who had two sons.
21 September 2008
Now if Jesus had ended the parable here, there would be no controversy. Most of Jesus’ hearers, would have said, “Fine, we're glad everyone was put to work,” and then would have gone home and promptly forgotten the parable. But Jesus doesn’t do that with his parables. Jesus always puts in a hook.
14 September
In Jesus’ stories we will have to be careful in simplistically identifying all the characters. For example, God is not like a sheik who considers selling families into slavery and then decides against it. Rather Jesus is telling us that the vision of the Gospel breaks the past cycle of retribution and revenge. It is not business as usual.
7 September
The lectionary this morning provides us with three lessons that all compliment each other, something, incidentally, which does not happen very often. The sixth century prophet Ezekiel makes it quite clear that God does not look forward to punishing, to separating, to alienating humanity from divine grace; rather God acts in human history primarily to reconcile, to bind up, and to rebuild. St. Paul, writing to the Christian community in Rome about the year 55, gives a long exhortation on the theme of understanding, harmony, and peace, over retaliation and justifying one’s personal honor.
24 August 2008
Jesus and the disciples had been on a tear, with many speaking engagements and healings, teaching crowds and arguing with opponents. The time in some sense must have past quickly, even if it was also very taxing. Jesus took the disciples apart to the region of Caesarea Philippi. It seems Jesus did not intend to address the larger public there, but to have some time alone with just the disciples. Caesarea Philippi was used by the Romans as a resort area for recreation and relaxation, and would have been quite a change from the fishing villages or agricultural centers around the Sea of Galilee.
3 August 2008
Matthew and Mark introduce the feeding with the somber announcement of John the Baptist’s execution and Jesus wishing to get away to be alone. In Luke Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do you think that I really am?” shortly after the feeding. Matthew includes women and children in this banquet that heals and reconciles all people, perhaps to underscore that this is a foretaste of the glorious fulfilling of God’s intention for humanity.
27 July 2008
Today’s Gospel is a collection of Jesus’ sayings that the Gospel editors thought essential to convey, even though the actual sermons or teaching that Jesus had originally used with them had been lost or forgotten. Of course these lessons, too, are not primarily about agriculture, fishing or small town life. By the time the Gospels were written and disseminated, Christianity had spread far beyond life around the Lake of Galilee.
6 July 2008
What God asks of all nations is not how large are your granaries or how wide your sphere of influence, but how do you treat the powerless, the orphans, and the strangers in your land. How are they and the many refugees of innumerable internal battles and disagreements, included? Do they ever experience joy too? An unmistakable and consistent theme in the Bible is God holding people and nations responsible for the welfare and their fair treatment of others.
29 June 2008
Most people of faith throughout the ages are known, not primary because they have striven for stupendous one time deeds, but because they have practiced consistent habits of hospitality that have become part of their lives. The ancient image of the twenty third psalm, of someone spreading a table and inviting a lone stranger to table fellowship and protecting that stranger from any enemies, carries over to Jesus’ image of providing a cup of water to one who is thirsty.
Sunday 22 June 2008
Narrowly partisan is one thing, but political is another. The Gospel is not of the world, but it is quite definitely in the world and is concerned about the fate of humanity. Humanity is the church’s business. This past week Pastor Davenport from one of the few operating parishes in the seventh ward of New Orleans visited Ithaca to thank us for the support we have given the people there. He made it painfully obvious that government at all levels continues to ignore and fail the people who are poor and powerless, and that it is the churches and the volunteers who come from all over to help that are providing the hope and support necessary for the residents there to rebuild. That’s a political reality that we rightfully should be aware of.
Sunday, 15 June 2008
The symbol of the unity of a chain of paper dolls also carries over in our prayers. In the Lord’s Prayer, the prayer Jesus explicitly taught us, we pray our father, not my father. Give us this day our daily bread, forgive us our trespasses. We conclude many of our other prayers, saying through Jesus Christ our lord. The Gospel isn’t just for me. Jesus came to give the Gospel and to minister to all of us.
Sunday, 8 June 2008
How do people of faith maintain a trusting attitude in a distrustful age? That I suspect is a question we all have to ponder as we go forward, even if the answer is not readily grasped. Yet if trust is the incubator of hope, then cynicism is surely the precursor of despair. A cynical, suspicious society is never a healthy one.
Sunday, 1 June 2008
The twentieth century theologian Paul Tillich said, in effect, that superficial faith is like a vase of cut flowers. The flowers are pretty for a while, but they will never grow or bloom again. You may change the water to prolong their fading, but only for a while. They have no roots and therefore, even though they appear to be fresh, they begin to wilt and decay the moment they are picked.
Sunday, 25 May 2008
At graduation ceremonies around the country, there will be many expressions reflecting the hope and sincere wishes for future success mingled with the recognition and congratulations of many accomplishments well done. While it is very reasonable for Alumni associations to offer more than subliminal messages about not forgetting your Alma Mater as you go out into the world to acquire your millions, Jesus’ words remind us of the danger of defining the successful life too narrowly.
Sunday, 18 May 2008
The Biblical saga of creation involves change. Right from the first, people of faith are told that creation itself is never static. Creation develops, and never stays the same. The ancient saga, based on observation, describes a progression from sea to land, from the world of the womb containing the ocean of umbilical fluid, to the opening of new birth in the air of a new day. To be alive means that growth must ensue. The Bible applies that not only to our physical life, but our spiritual life as well.
Sunday, 11 May 2008
I wonder if the celebration of Pentecost itself is not reminding us that God uses many languages and communicates in numerous ways. There is no official divine way of communicating, which is why talking about a definitive call of God can be very tricky. God has given us freedom to choose.
Sunday, 4 May 2008—The Episcopal Community at Cornell and St. John’s Church Joint Sunday after Ascension Day Service
The Gospel readings for the weeks just after Easter struggle with several closely related questions: Is the risen Christ only a ghost or is Christ for real? Is the Gospel supposed to be central to our life or just peripheral? Is discipleship an everyday endeavor that we are willing to wrestle with or is it like a costume we put on for a nostalgia party for a small group of close friends and then take off again when we get home?
Sunday 4 May 2008
At Ascension, Jesus reminds his disciples that the Gospel is not confined to the shores of Galilee. Pentecost will further confirm that the Gospel will not be limited to the structures of Judaism. God is able to travel, too, and the Gospel will spread to the ends of the earth among all cultures. During these fifty days from Easter to Pentecost we are being prepared, in some manner, to go forth, to take new paths. We also are reminded that the Holy Spirit is portable and will pitch a tent alongside of us as we go.
Sunday, 20 April 2008
Most of us have heard the tale about a seeker of wisdom who traveled thousands of miles to find a renowned sage who lived in a cave on a remote mountaintop. After many trials, the seeker reached the sage, and asked, “How does one survive evil and adversity, how does one deal with success and victory, and what lesson is useful to remember in good times and in bad?” “Ah,” said the sage “all you need to remember is four words: This too, will pass.”
Sunday. 13 April 2008
This Sunday is commonly called Good Shepherd Sunday because many of the traditional lessons focus on God being like a good shepherd. The twenty third psalm reflects the experience of a lone traveler on the desert, seemingly being threatened by marauders. Normally such a loner would be an easy prey. But a passing caravan, takes the loner in, makes him a member of their family, and hence stands up and provides protection.
Sunday, 6 April 2008
The good news of the Easter season is Jesus is risen; it’s been done. We don’t have to figure out how to do it. The critical side of discipleship is not what we must struggle to obtain and earn, but what we are invited to share and give, keeping in mind the great gift we have been given.
Sunday, 30 March 2008
The Easter season is not like the conclusion of a television series, tying up all the loose ends, and explaining all the mysteries and contradictions of the living Christ among us. Easter inevitably sends us from whatever comfortable and cozy spots we have, to outsiders, and always keeps before us those who have doubts and are still waiting and wondering. In one sense Jesus would never have locks on any doors in the community of faith.
Easter Sunday, 23 March 2008
That is why the resurrection stories cannot be neatly tied up in one comprehensible package. The risen Lord is a facilitator of transformation, not conformity. Of course, we are all wonderfully unique individuals, and we all are going to discover the risen Lord in our lives at different times, on different levels, and in various ways. The Good News is that God is not tied up or restricted by time, by culture, or by distance. The resurrection is revealed again and again in fresh, amazing new ways, especially as we go forth from here.
Palm Sunday, 16 March 2008
Today we are invited to participate in a journey that inevitably leads to confrontation with the arrogance of worldly power. There is plenty of reason to despair. Despite our protests, entreaties and conferences, wars drag on, society becomes more troubled, problems fester into more virulent forms and quite often justice, compassion, and reconciliation are cruelly mocked. Do not believe that this will end soon.
Sunday, 2 March 2008
There are many situations in which we are apt to feel uncomfortable at being identified as practicing and witnessing Christians. For we are all likely from time to time to be put on the spot and have all sorts of unflattering stuff and misperceptions projected on us. I suspect especially those in middle school, high school, and even college may feel keenly the pain of being regarded with distain, if not suspicion. Therefore the man born blind is someone we can certainly sympathize with.
Sunday, 24 February 2008
The story of the woman at the well is one of the longest single stories found in any of the Gospels. John used Jesus's ministry in Samaria as a poet would, in emphasizing that the Good News becomes a sign to people despised, to those who sit in darkness, and to those who are seeking. Behind the encounter of Jesus and the woman at the well is an important message of the church’s mission of invitation and welcome.
Sunday, 17 February 2008
We live in a culture that lures the fearful to join myriad systems, both secular and religious, that share a closed circle of ritual, rules, and philosophy promising to guarantee you personal safety and wellbeing. Like poisonous waterholes in a dessert, it is so tempting to ignore the warning signs until we have tried to quench our thirst.
Sunday, 10 February 2008
Humanity has a universal problem with wanting to be omniscient, to be like God, to be emperor of the entire universe. That is what the phrase the knowledge of good and evil means. It is not referring to the ability to make moral choices between right and wrong, but the pride in believing that it is possible for certain, to always know what is truth and always know what is falsehood.
Sunday, 3 February 2008
Sometimes we ask, why can’t we be more spiritual? Why don’t we have these exhilarating mountaintop experiences like the disciples? Yet often what we really are asking when we are yearning to be more spiritual, is why can’t we be more at ease, why can’t we be more sure, why can’t we be more comfortable.
Sunday 27 January 2008
We expect God to be in spectacular events or at profound times that deeply move us, as if God is confined to the occurrences of thunder and lightening. Yet the voice of God can well be a progressive and gradual thing. It is like forming a close friendship. Sometimes we form an instant close bond with an individual at first sight, but I suspect for most of us, we grow into close friendships.
Sunday, 20 January 2008
This week our country remembers the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. Most of us never knew him personally. Many of us were born after his lifetime. His legacy, however, still inspires and shines across many barriers and generations. King was a person of profound faith, and people of faith have hope, a hope that often radiates from them, far and wide, even beyond the limitations of time. “Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in a lifetime; therefore we must be saved by hope.”
Sunday, 13 January 2008
The story of Jesus’ baptism is always read on the first Sunday after Epiphany. The basic Epiphany story is a sign that God gathers many types of people together so that good news to the world may be shown and lifted high. Baptism, like the disclosure of the birth of Jesus to the magi, illuminates the universality of God’s grace. It is fortuitous that the story of Jesus’ baptism today is paired with the scripture passage from Isaiah and the passage from Acts.
Sunday, 6 January 2008
The magi are in it for the long haul, symbolic of a planned and enduring commitment. They started off on their difficult journey not knowing the exact destination, nor having a definitive understanding of what they would find when they got there.