Matthew 10:24-39 On Friday afternoon I arrived at the wedding venue a little early and I found myself in conversation with the family friend who had come to do hair and make-up for the women and girls in the wedding party. Realizing I was a pastor, she made the connection between me and the recently …
Tag: Matthew
The Harvest is Plentiful…
Matthew 9:35-10:8 It’s my observation that we are not accustomed to thinking of much of anything as ‘plentiful,’ these days — at least in our collective life in the church. At least not in terms of the things we long for or believe ourselves to need. This came home to me this last Friday morning. …
Jesus, a Grieving Dad, a Hemorrhaging Woman, and All of Us Who Have Ever Been Brought Low…
Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 I have found myself struggling some as I paused with the familiar images before us now, especially that of the wondrous returning of life to a child who had died and healing to a woman who had suffered long and the sound of Jesus’ voice saying, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has …
The Face of God
Now this is so. I have never been one who knew too much of how to speak of the Holy Trinity. I expect my mind does not work naturally in such categories, with such systematic ways of thinking. More than this, and perhaps for this reason, I imagine, I have never found a good way …
“Home By Another Road…”
Matthew 2:1-12 For many a season now I have read T.S. Eliot’s poem, “The Journey of the Magi,” expecting it would bring deeper meaning to the Epiphany. The truth is, though, that while I referred to it 9 years ago now in On Magi and Journeys, many years it has fallen a bit flat for …
Upside Down Glory
Matthew 25:31-46 I imagine you might hear this as I do today, hearing about Jesus coming into his ‘glory,’ knowing which of Jesus’ hands I hope I will end up on. Oh yes, I have heard these words for decades by now and with that hearing comes the undeniable understanding of who and what I …
Wasted Gifts and God’s Grace
Matthew 25:14-30 Fear is what kept those talents buried in the ground, of course it is. The third one doesn’t name it that directly, but it is what drove him to simply tuck it all away in a safe place. And I get that, I really do. Because the risk is powerfully great. One could …
Oil In Our Lamps…
Matthew 25:1-13 It was the late winter in 1979. I was a senior in high school and competing at the state tournament in forensics. Extemporaneous speaking was my event. I grew up in a small town some 80 miles west of Chicago. We had a great speech program, mind you, with wonderful coaches. Those in …
All Saints Day 2020: Blessed Are Those Who Mourn…
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes…” Revelation 7:9-17 “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are…” 1 John 3:1-3 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted…” Matthew 5:1-12 Ray Steinbis died this week. Only …
Divided Loyalties: Weighing It Out
Matthew 22:15-22 Oh, I surely do wish today that Jesus would have made it easier on us than he does now. For while his reply to the Herodians and the Pharisees walked an important and tenuous line, it leaves us with the responsibility of wrestling this question through our whole lives long. Now understand, please, …