It is hard to imagine a human being who does not want to be happy free and fulfilled It is a paradox of human existence however that genuine happiness freedom and fulfillment seem to come mostly to those in the service of a noble cause or project Caught up in his own losses and sufferings the
The Word
Posted inThe Word
Kingdom and Discipleship
In 2006 Year B in the Sunday Lectionary cycle the Gospel reading is usually from Mark This is the shortest and earliest Gospel written around A D 70 probably at Rome Mark was the first to provide a narrative framework or plot for the traditional sayings and stories related to Jesus He seems
Posted inThe Word
The Holy One of God
The central character in Mark rsquo s Gospel is Jesus of Nazareth who is identified as the Son of God both at the outset 1 1 and at the moment of his death 15 39 In between Mark presents Jesus as a miracle worker who heals the sick frees individuals from demonic possession and manifests powe
Posted inThe Word
A Surprising Messiah
The magi who seem to have been Persian priests and or Babylonian astronomers came to Israel in search of the ldquo King of the Jews rdquo the Gentile translation for ldquo messiah rdquo or ldquo anointed one rdquo In ancient Israel priests prophets and kings were anointed In some Jewish
Posted inThe Word
What Are You Looking For?
The first words that Jesus the Word of God speaks in John rsquo s Gospel are directed to two prospective disciples sent to him by John the Baptist Jesus asks them ldquo What are you looking for rdquo At the beginning of any spiritual journey it is important to ask what it is that we seek and d
Posted inThe Word
De-Christianizing Christmas?
In recent years there has been a lively controversy about ldquo de-Christianizing rdquo Christmas We all now speak vaguely about ldquo the holidays rdquo In some circles the greeting ldquo Merry Christmas rdquo has become forbidden speech Whether one regards this debate as serious or silly
Posted inThe Word
What’s In a Name?
Names are important All of us like to be called by our names It indicates recognition and even friendship We are annoyed when someone gets our name wrong We are embarrassed when we do not know or forget the name of someone we should know When others make fun of our name or deliberately misprono
Posted inThe Word
People of the Promise
quot But you promised rdquo Most parents have heard this lament from their children more than once A promise is a declaration that something will or will not happen A promise indicates what may be expected A promise demands and elicits trust The Scripture texts for the Fourth Sunday of Adven
Posted inThe Word
Joyful Witnesses
The Third Sunday of Advent is traditionally known as Gaudete Sunday from the Latin verb for ldquo rejoice rdquo The opening line in Paul rsquo s list of imperatives at the end of 1 Thessalonians captures the spirit of the day ldquo Rejoice always rdquo Besides the theme of joy running throug
Posted inThe Word
Whose Kingdom?
If you want to drive a New Testament scholar crazy start talking about how we bring about the kingdom of God Such talk is both unbiblical and bad theology It is God rsquo s kingdom to bring when and how God sees fit Our task and privilege is to bear witness to and cooperate in God rsquo s work