Today we have the story of Jairus and his daughter in our Gospel lesson. In terms of context, this is very early in the public ministry of Jesus, but he had worked a number of healing miracles in Mark’s Gospel before this took place. He had cleansed a leper. He had healed a paralytic, and… Continue reading “Do not fear. Only believe.”
Category: Sermons
Sheep and Shepherds
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd.” The New Testament was written in Greek. The word that is used here for “good” means “good” in a lovely sort of way. In his commentary on the Gospel of John, William Barclay says the phrase, “good shepherd,” is like the phrase, “the good doctor.” You probably don’t… Continue reading Sheep and Shepherds
Interruptions
No one likes to be interrupted. Whether we are trying to have a conversation or trying to accomplish a task, we are usually focused on finishing. When something prevents us from doing that, we are frustrated. A few years ago, Susan and I set off on a trip to Maine to celebrate our 30th wedding… Continue reading Interruptions
Don’t Make it Too Complicated
I think sometimes we have a lot of baggage we bring with us into relationships. My parents had one of those formative experiences early in their marriage that I heard about from both of them. It was interesting to get the different spin on events and come to a deeper appreciation for just who my… Continue reading Don’t Make it Too Complicated
The Passion in Spanish according to St. Mark -Pasion en espanol Marcos
EVANGELIO Pretendían prender a Jesús a traición y darle muerte Lectura del santo evangelio según san Marcos 14, 1—15, 47 Faltaban dos días para la Pascua y los Ázimos. Los sumos sacerdotes y los escribas pretendían prender a Jesús a traición y darle muerte. Pero decían: S.— «No durante las fiestas; podría amotinarse el pueblo».… Continue reading The Passion in Spanish according to St. Mark -Pasion en espanol Marcos
The Mountaintop Experience
One thing we don’t much of in Indiana is mountains. When I came to Culver for my interview at the Academies, I remarked how very flat things were. I mean we had plenty of cows and fields of beans in Tennessee, but the hills were rolling and those fields of beans did not seem so… Continue reading The Mountaintop Experience
Take Heart
I have preached before on what I have considered to be encounters with angels. You may remember my stories about the nun who always seemed to be praying with me as I read the Daily Office at St. Rose of Lima in Murfreesboro, TN. You are more likely to remember the DNR officer when we… Continue reading Take Heart
I’ll Be Happy
Finish this sentence for me. I am not going to call on anyone or have you turn to your neighbor or anything. “I’ll be happy when….” There are as many endings for this sentence as there are people I think. All of us have different goals and needs. Some people want to retire or… Continue reading I’ll Be Happy
Get Ready
Happy New Year! Today is the first day of the church year, and so we are in Year A with the Eucharistic Lectionary and Year 1 with the Daily Office Lectionary. The honest truth is that almost no one really savors the season of Advent. We are supposed to be fasting and preparing ourselves… Continue reading Get Ready
Being Grateful
Legend has it that a man once found the barn where Satan kept the seed to be sown in human hearts. He saw that the seed of discouragement was the most numerous of Satan’s seeds, and learned that those seeds would grow almost anywhere. Then he spoke with Satan and learned that there was one… Continue reading Being Grateful