The gospel readings from Easter to the Ascension depict Jesus saying goodbye to his disciples. And so much more. One of the beautiful things about working in a high school is that we get to celebrate the natural beginnings and endings that a school year provides. In August each year, we all get new school supplies, class schedules, hopes, and goals. And every year in May, we get to experience a sense of closure and the satisfaction that comes with... Read more
The gospel for the Sixth Sunday of Easter provides confirmation of the radical organizational chart in the employee handbook for Christianity, Inc. I have been teaching confirmation preparation classes to eighth graders in my parish over the last eight months. I’ve learned a few things. First, 25 eighth-grade boys and girls together in one room are . . . a lot. Second, they are both delightful and annoying, often at the same moment. And third, they can wolf down snacks... Read more
May the 4th might be the most interesting non-holiday holiday on the calendar! It’s the National Day of Prayer, and thanks to a recent survey on the topic, it’s clear that prayer is part of every day of the year for most Americans. The results are in! City Square Associates conducted a national survey from April 6-17 of American adults ages 18-64 across all demographic categories, and the results are pretty compelling. While society may appear to be growing more... Read more
The fourth Sunday in Easter opens the door to what it means to have the fullness of life. In other words, it’s the GOAT on the gate. My best friend from college has lived in lots of different places. Her bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees were earned in a geographically diverse array of U.S. cities. Each one involved numerous apartment leases, moving companies, change-of-address forms, and questionable roommates. After marriage, she and her husband lived on the west coast for... Read more
Jesus said that those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness” are blessed in the Beatitudes, but there’s an epidemic of spiritual malnutrition today that’s anything but holy. I came across a sad news story today. Twenty-one people in Kenya have died of starvation. The Good News International Church leader there, Paul Makenzie Nthenge, instructed the members to starve themselves to meet Jesus. I feel sadness at the senseless loss of life and anger at this person’s cruel abuse of power... Read more
Today’s gospel readings culminate in what may be the most frequently quoted line in the entire New Testament. “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life (John 3:16). Growing up, I loved watching Atlanta Braves baseball. During the early 80s, the Turner Broadcasting System brought the boys of summer into my parents’ living room regularly. My mother thought Dale Murphy hung the... Read more
Poor “Doubting Thomas.” The focal point of today’s gospel reading, he’s usually thought of as Meryl Streep’s character in The Devil Wears Prada or Angelina Jolie’s in Maleficent. In other words, no high marks. But not so fast. I’m a little bit in love with him. Here’s why. In today’s gospel reading, shortly after Jesus has risen, the disciples are huddled together in a room, and Jesus appears. Thomas wasn’t present then, so when he did return, he couldn’t be... Read more
Holy Week has led to this day: Easter Sunday. Perhaps taking a closer look at what we mean by “salvation” can bring us closer to the real “good news.” What a week it’s been! On Palm Sunday, I suggested that a significant problem with organized religion today is language. Then on Monday, I proposed that “humanity” and “divinity” might not be the opposite terms we usually think they are. On Tuesday, I played with non-traditional ways of understanding what we mean when we... Read more
Good Friday is far more about life than death. Three often overlooked elements of the gospel reading for Good Friday reveal more about the heart and soul of life than the grief and despair of death. I’ve enjoyed visiting my sister and her husband this week during Spring Break. We got our first pedicure of the season, ate out at great restaurants, played Pickleball, and laughed and laughed and laughed. But I’m back home now. In Jesus’ own words from... Read more
The gospel reading for Holy Thursday points to the heart of the Christian message. Unfortunately, some of our religious language has clouded its impact. As Gustav Flaubert wrote in Madame Bovary, “Human speech is like a cracked kettle on which we tap crude rhythms for bears to dance to, while we long to make music that will melt the stars.” He was right. Language is both treasure and torment at the same time. We began this week grappling with the... Read more
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