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The Scriptures this week seem to be challenging us to see (and trust) that the world as we know it, with all its brokenness and its inequalities, needs to be allowed to die in some form so that the new life of God’s desired way of being can emerge. Sentence: “Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:39 Collect: Creator God, Life giving Redeemer, Spirit that brings new life to bear, Grant us courage to trust

Our readings this week touch upon many important subjects. When read together I am challenged that the decision to follow, to be obedient, begins for us with a decision to step out, often into a place of discomfort or vulnerability, but to actually get started with the living of our faith before we are sure of everything. (Third Sunday after Pentecost. Proper 6 [11]. Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7; Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 [or Exodus 19:2-8a; Psalm 100]; Romans 5:1-8; and Matthew 9:35-1

And so we begin the Season after Pentecost by returning to the story of the call of the disciple Matthew. But our gospel and other texts (Proper 5 [10], Genesis 12:1-9; Psalm 33:1-12; Romans 4:13-25: and Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26) speaks to an already radical and rather inconvenient gospel message – that the life giving truth is being shared with those who are dubious, that Jesus enjoys the company of those on the edge of proper society, and that membership is simply to know and

Speaking of God as three yet one, if nothing else, should lead us into humility, wonder, and curiosity! At the very heart of the Divine is mystery, relationship, and movement. The church has worked very hard on the doctrine of the Trinity and wonderful work continues to be done. But we should be humble and cautious enough to know that whatever we think we know, whatever glorious or mechanistic metaphors we put forward, they are but fleeting shadows of the power and vibrant na

It is of utmost comfort and humbling challenge that Jesus prayed for his disciples, including us, before he gave himself over to death. He prayed three things for his disciples before he left them (and therefore for us too): for their protection; that they would know union with his father as he did; and that in the fullness of time they would go where he was going. (John 17:1-11) Sentence: “And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you

We talk about love a lot but often as though it is only a feeling. We may find it helpful to think about love as an ethic that guides our actions and thoughts as well as our feelings. (John 14:15-21) Sentence: ‘ “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” ’ John 14:15 Collect: Gracious God, who by the power of love you brought the world in to being. We give you thanks that you have made yourself known in the love of Jesus for us and that you have called us to make thi

Jesus invites us to follow him by stepping out onto the Way. A way of living and loving that will heal us, change us and prepare us for our return to God in the fullness of time - The Way of Love. Sentence: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ ” John 14:6 Collect: Gracious God, Source of all being, Lead us on the Way of Love that we may know ourselves and others Loved, forgiven and healed and that the j

How do we discern the voice of Jesus amid the clamour of competing claims? (Easter Four. John 10:1-10.) Sentence: “… and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” John 10:3 Collect: Creator God, you spoke and the world came into being. You sent your own son among us and he spoke in the language of the everyday words of healing and forgiveness. He listened to the cries from the margins of those often silenced. Help us to discern his voic

The mysterious and powerful story of the encounter on the Emmaus road captivates our imaginations, comforts us in times of uncertainty and struggle, and challenges us how to live a faithful life. (Easter Three. Luke 24:13-35.) Sentence: They said to each other: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32 Collect: Loving Creator, Your beloved son returned to us and fell in step beside u

The risen Christ offers his disciples peace. And then immediately tells them that if they forgive anyone their sins are forgiven, if they retain anyone’s sins they are retained. It is worth noting that this is the newly risen Jesus who says this – the one who has much to forgive, including the feint hearted disciples in the room! (Easter Two. John 20:19-31.) I wonder if this means that when we pray for peace in the world, when we long for peace in our lives, that we are being

Christ is risen, he is risen indeed, Hallelujah! “We are a resurrection people and Hallelujah is our song”. (Easter Day. Matthew 28:1-10.) One of the things we do come Easter, after a long and sober Lent, is we break out the hymns with Hallelujah in them! Hallelujah comes from the Hebrew and means God be praised! It is an expression of adoration and worship, of joyful celebration. It is sometimes a chorus of great and glorious certainty and sometimes, as Leonard Cohen remin