James 1:22-27 None of us likes people who say one thing and do another. In fact, some of our harshest criticism is for those who not only sin or do what is wrong but also do it in violation of what they themselves proclaim. We have a word for such people: hypocrites. To some extent we are all hypocrites, but as we all know there are hypocrites and then there are hypocrites. This morning, James is concerned that we not... Read more
James 1:12-21 There is an incredible riddle hidden in the English translations of James 1, wrapped in the mystery of God’s wisdom, inside the enigma of the Greek language. This riddle is why the Greek word peirasmos is translated “trial” in verse 2 but “temptation” in verses 12-14. It is the same word, and yet we routinely translate and read it in two different senses. What is going on here? I’m not a Greek scholar, but it appears as if... Read more
James 1:1-11 Et tu, James? You, too, along with St. Paul are commanding me to rejoice in my trials? To which St. James replies simply: “Exactly.” I welcome the break from St. Paul’s weighty letters, hoping to catch a breather from his demanding gospel, which is the gospel of Jesus Christ and the apostolic tradition that we are to keep. I was looking forward, to a break from Paul’s constant emphasis on how we are to respond to suffering... Read more
2 Thessalonians 3:6-18 I get upset when I hear of those who call themselves Christians and yet insist on their right to disobey God – and I’ll bet you do too. As an Anglican, in the past few years I’ve heard a lot of self-professed Christians insist that homosexuality is not a sin – in clear violation of God’s holy commandments. It’s relatively easy to see this as a clear refusal to obey God’s commandments, but I’m constantly surprised at... Read more
2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5 I had a long, hard day yesterday. I wanted to wake up this morning and have somebody pat me on the back and say what a good boy I’ve been. I wanted someone to fawn all over me. But no-o-o-o! Once again, St. Paul has to go and make it all about God. God this and God that. What about me? Actually, this passage is about me and about you, but only after it is first about... Read more
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 There are a number of interpretations of what St. Paul is referring to when he speaks of the Day of the Lord, the son of perdition, and other things. To do justice to presenting my own understanding would detract from the devotional nature of these meditations, and yet it is necessary in this passage to offer some background. When reading the Bible, we must always remember to place any given text in its proper context, which includes... Read more
2 Thessalonians 1 Today, class, we’re going to have a lesson in logic. (Oops! I taught school for 18 years, and old habits die hard.) My twin brother Danny over the years has trained himself to think in syllogisms, which is an astounding feat, given the innate messiness and non-linear nature of the human brain. What is a syllogism? I’m glad you asked! Syllogism: A form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion;... Read more
1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 “Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss” (verse 26.) I’m sorry, but that sounds just plain weird to me. And it is, at least to my own cultural ears and imagination, rooted in 20th century America. But might such an idea still have significance for us? Though the cultural differences are important and not many people advocate literally going back to a kiss, the holy kiss is an important concept. A holy kiss is a kind... Read more
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 “You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor darkness.” With these simple words, St. Paul encapsulates the boundary between all human time: BC and AD – before Christ and anno Domini (in the year of our Lord.) One of the fundamental images of the Bible is the distinction between darkness and light, especially as light represents God and His Kingdom and darkness represents Satan and his... Read more
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Wednesday of 18th Sunday after Trinity – James 2:1-13
James 2:1-13 The human ability to pick and choose what we pay attention to is astonishing. In terms of the never-ending torrent of sensory input that washes over us each day, it’s a good thing that we have this selectivity. Sometimes it keeps us from being overwhelmed and distracted, and other times it makes us capable of great concentration and dedication. I remember when I was in junior high being amazed by my twin brother’s amazing ability to play war... Read more