Easter 2, April 15, 2012

Last Wednesday night the I accompanied our confirmation class to a visit to the St. Paul Cathedral.  Just a few minutes from here on a hill downtown is the 4^th largest cathedral in North America.  And it is magnificent.  The four evangelists tower over the worshippers at each corner of the sanctuary – the dome above features the choirs of angels – stained class fills every window space – immense marble columns provide the structure – it is a space that reflects the transcendence of God.

Evening Prayer, March 7, 2012

Let Us Fix Our Eyes on Jesus  Part 3

The Scripture reading tonight from the prophet Isaiah identifies the suffering servant of God as a “man of suffering” or a “man of sorrows.”  As we recall the story of Jesus’ suffering and death, we hear how he suffered physically – soldiers beat him and scourged him – they struck him in the face — they put a crown of thorns on his head – they nailed spikes in his hands and feet – a spear through his side.  His physical suffering was literally excruciating. 

Lent 2, March 4, 2012

Jesus often said things that people did not understand.  We are told over and over in the Gospels that the disciples did not know what Jesus was talking about.  Especially when he spoke in parables but even when he used other figures of speech.  Once, Jesus overheard a confused discussion among the disciples regarding something he had said.  Jesus said to them, “Do you still not see or understand?   Are your hearts hardened?  Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear?”  At another point we are told that Jesus sighed deeply over the inability of his hearers to grasp the meaning of his teaching. 

Evening Prayer, February 29, 2012

Let Us Fix Our Eyes on Jesus (Part 2)

It is strange that we should look to the Old Testament for information about the face of Jesus.  The prophet Isaiah, who continues to speak to us tonight in our Scripture reading, never saw Jesus, nor did he know his name or have any concept of what the human Messiah would be like.  Yet he describes the appearance of the suffering servant in vivid detail.  And we recognize the Savior in these details. 

Lent 1, February 26, 2012

My son and I saw the movie, The Grey a couple weeks ago.  It tells the story of a group of roughneck oil workers whose plane crashes in the remote Alaskan wilderness.  Liam Neeson plays the man who leads the group trying to help them survive the brutal conditions before their time runs out.  They find themselves surrounded by a pack of wolves who seems extremely territorial, unwelcoming and hungry and who have a terrifying growl.  The men battle injuries and attacks by the wolves, until a final tense standoff with the alpha male that the film leaves unresolved.

Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2012

“Let Us Fix Our Eyes on Jesus”  (Part 1)

A beautiful woman is sitting to have her portrait taken.  Her concern?  That the photographer catch her best angle.  She doesn’t want to just sit and face the camera and have her picture taken like a mug shot.  So she seeks out a good photographer; one who will encourage subtle positions that will enhance her features.  He may say, “Look down, look to the side . . . head up, chin down.  Whatever it takes to give her a beautiful image . . .

Epiphany 6, February 12, 2012

It’s been a while since I’ve run around on a school playground so I don’t know if this childhood epidemic still runs rampant, but when I was a kid girl germs were a serious health risk.  One little touch (fingers) and you were infected.  Judging by their screams and giggles, boy germs were equally contagious to the girls.  So we all avoided any cross-gender touching.