Christ the King, November 25, 2012

One of the shows we like to watch at our house is Once Upon a Time.  The basic premise is that every fairy tale character in the story books is under a curse and trapped in modern day town in Maine.  At first they didn’t remember who they really were; as the curse was lifted, they remained trapped trying to find a new identity in a strange world.  This seems most difficult for those who were kings and queens in the fairy tale land — their magical powers not always as useful or effective in a contemporary world.

How would you use your power if you were a king or queen?  I’ve got some ideas . . .

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Thanksgiving, November 21, 2012

A monk joined a monastery and took a vow of silence. After the first 10 years of absolutely no speaking at all, his superior called him in and asked, “Do you have anything to say?  I’ll allow you two words. The monk replied, “Food bad.” After another 10 years of perfect silence the monk again had opportunity to voice his thoughts with two words. He said, “Bed hard.” Another 10 years went by and again he was called in before his superior. When asked if he had anything to say, he responded, “I quit.” The older monk replied, “That doesn’t surprise me a bit. You’ve done nothing but gripe and complain ever since you got here.

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Pentecost 24, November 11, 2012

Now that the election is over, everyone is worried about the looming fiscal cliff – those automatic tax increases and spending cuts that will kick in at the end of the year if congress and the president don’t agree to a federal budget  deal before then.  Experts say these increases and cuts will have a significant negative impact on our economy not to mention people’s personal lives.  Government does not always make wise choices with our money and our politicians don’t like to have to make compromises with their priorities which is what makes people nervous.

Today’s Gospel has someone heading towards their own fiscal cliff who makes a personal decision with her money that may not make good economic sense, but really impresses Jesus.

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All Saints Sunday/Confirmation Sunday, November 4, 2012

Today’s Gospel is an amazing story from the ministry of Jesus.  As Jesus went about the countryside of Galilee he gave his followers signs of who he is and what he came to do beginning with changing water into wine, continuing with miracles of healing and culminating with the event in today’s Gospel in which Jesus does the unimaginable, the inconceivable – something almost unbelievable — he brings his friend back from the dead.  It’s a story with a wonderful happy ending.

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