Sunday, January 29, 2006

February 5, 2006 - Year B - Epiphany 5

Isaiah 40:21-31
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Mark 1:29-39


Particularity is something we continually have difficulty with. It runs contrary to our desire for universal meaning. The particulars are always changing and challenging to any system. Exceptions are required and that throws us off our throne of omnipotence and all-knowingness.

When we finally find out we can't escape the particulars we dive into them so deeply that we lose track of our commonality, our inescapable links with one another past all the limits of kith and kin.

This week we do what we can to be open to the warp and woof of life, the common and the particular, the universal and the unique. When we begin to see them woven together we are a step beyond fear being a beginning place of wisdom.

Sunday, January 22, 2006

January 29, 2006 - Year B - Epiphany 4

Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Psalm 111
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Mark 1:21-28


What is our relationship with our various realities? How do we interact with demons, what are they to us. What about the survival issues of food and clothing? G*D is another aspect of living that we need to figure out about how we are going to be in covenant with one another. One of the more exciting challenges is that of new leadership and seeing the best of the past in something just coming into being.

As we go through the week it will be helpful to consider what we have to do with that which presents itself. Do we affirm it? deny it? classify it? ignore it? use it to our own ends? give thanks?

Sunday, January 15, 2006

January 22, 2006 - Year B - Epiphany 3

Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Psalm 62:5-12
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20


"Waiting is half of our story." [You can hear a snippet of The Prodigal by Joe Wise here. The whole song and cd Show Me Your Smile is a favorite]

We await the result of our desire. We await in silence. We await a preferred future. We await a call.

Wait well.

Sunday, January 08, 2006

January 15, 2006 - Year B - Epiphany 2

1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20)
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
John 1:43-51


The call to new life and new relationships comes at the strangest of times and in the unexpected of places. Are you dozing off during a sermon? A call could come then. Are you just tootling along life's byways? A call could come there. Are you already showing your patriotic allegiance to some state or tradition? A call could come then and there. Are you simply following the path of least resistance in a culture? A call could come there and then.

As you pay attention to your schedule for this week, know that you could be called out of some previously scheduled event or, where there is nothing scheduled, a surprise fulfillment may suddenly be visited upon you. Simply anticipate additional growth this week, whether your horoscope suggests it or not.

Sunday, January 01, 2006

January 8, 2006 - Year B - Epiphany 1

Genesis 1:1-5
Psalm 29
Acts 19:1-7
Mark 1:4-11


While ordinarily titled The Baptism of the Lord we might also look at these scriptures as another creation story. Whenever we look beyond the form we are dealing with creation. Sometimes this is interpretive creation as in midrash. Sometimes creativity is seeing the new already present in the midst of the present, only covered over in status quo.

May our eyes be opened to not only see a star leading, but the consequences following.