Monday, February 27, 2006

March 1, 2006 - Year B - Ash Wednesday

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 or Isaiah 58:1-12
Psalm 51:1-17
2 Corinthians 5:20b - 6:10
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21


The vision we have of where meaning is to be found will directly affect our interaction with other folks. Lent is as much about clarifying where meaning lies, as anything. Behind all the rules and deprivations of popular spirituality is a question about what is most deeply significant. The way we begin a Lenten season is important to the way in which we will probably end it (never discounting a sign or miracle coming our way that we recognize).

March 5, 2006 - Year B - Lent 1

Genesis 9:8-17
Psalm 25:1-10
1 Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:9-15


Covenants come in positive form - it is good, you are my beloved. Covenants come in negative form - I won't cut you entirely off.

As we begin a Lenten it will be important to identify what covenant we are moving toward and what covenant we are fasting from. Of most interest will be where we think there is a conflict between covenants and where we don't notice that one has taken precedence over another.

Sunday, February 19, 2006

February 26, 2006 - Year B - Epiphany Last/Transfiguration

2 Kings 2:1-12
Psalm 50:1-6
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Mark 9:2-9


It is so easy for Christ to be veiled. We fear to tell the truth we know and reduce it to the truth an institution knows. We are in the presence of light that brings together all our relevant past and illumines a direction from here and have no idea how to translate such an experience into language for ourselves or any one else. We fear that judgment is going to be condemnatory, not forgiving and we lose track of the presence of a G*D of steadfast love. We look for a double share of grace and turn it to our own advantage, hiding, not revealing, Christ.

Sunday, February 12, 2006

February 19, 2006 - Year B - Epiphany 7

Isaiah 43:18-25
Psalm 41
2 Corinthians 1:18-22
Mark 2:1-12


Faithfulness is an important category for meaning.

There is a call to be faithful to the past, but not so rigidly that we fail to be faithful to an emerging future.

There is a call to be faithful to neighbors and to G*D without one negating the other.

There is a call to a faithfulness that goes beyond consistency, else we couldn't participate in justice for both the poor and the rich, the strong and the weak.

Sunday, February 05, 2006

February 12, 2006 - Year B - Epiphany 6

2 Kings 5:1-14
Psalm 30
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Mark 1:40-45


Do you do what you do do for a reward?

Well, a word of thanks would be nice.

If you do it for reward, will you then take back what you do if thanks or other recognition is not given in the way you desire it to be shown?

What do you do for either the sheer joy of doing it or because it is what you understand is asked of you to be in touch with a larger meaning of life? Yes, count those ways!