Epiphany 4, January 29, 2017

As many of you know if you are on Facebook or Twitter, a hashtag is a word or phrase that is used to categorize or connect things people post on social media.  One of the most popular “hastags” on social media is #blessed.  Some also feel it is one of the most annoying.  Because when it is attached to photos or amazing experiences or news of good fortune or success, it can feel to some like saying “I am blessed” is just a glorified way of bragging.

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Epiphany 3, January 22, 2017

I’ll never forget the day I got my call.

 

It sounds funny now in this context to speak about “my call” like everyone knows what I’m talking about.  But when you are in the seminary and preparing for full time service in the church, everyone knows what “my call” means!  It means the place where you’re going to live and preach and do the thing that you’ve been preparing 8 years to do!  Your “call” means an opportunity to finally put into practice all that you’ve been learning. Let’s face it: it means people who are actually going to pay you and support you!

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Epiphany 2, January 15, 2017

Has anyone ever told you that you look like someone famous?  I can only like of two celebrities people have told me I resemble and neither was very complimentary.

 

When Jesus was walking on this earth, nobody looked at him and said, “Hey! You look like a Messiah.  You must be the Son of God!  You look just like Him!”  No, Jesus looked very much like anyone else. The Bible says, “there was nothing in His appearance to attract us to Him.”

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Christmas 1, January 1, 2017

It’s too soon.

 

The Gospel for today from Matthew – a tragic episode in the life of Christ – just feels too soon.

I mean it’s such an unsettling contrast to the nativity account we’ve heard this past week featuring the tender baby, his attentive, faithful parents, and the adoring shepherds.  It’s such a heart-warming story – about holding a baby and being held.

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