Relating, Creating, Transforming
Luke 24: 1-12 I’ll admit it. During this particular Holy Week and then, on Resurrection or “Easter” Sunday, I didn’t feel so up to painting eggs, eating candy, or singing hallelujah, Christ is risen! My role here is not to be a Debbie Downer–it’s just to be honest. I’m not up to it. Because, doesn’t […]
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Luke 19:28-40 Peace sayings from various traditions Hindu tradition Oh God, lead us from the unreal to the Real, from darkness to light, from death to immortality. God’s peace, peace, peace to all. Buddhist tradition May all beings everywhere be happy, Peaceful, and free. Jain tradition Peace and universal love is the essence of all […]
Read MoreMark 4:35-41 This is an excerpt from an article written for the Huffington Post by Rev. Otis Moss, III, pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. The doors of the church are [still] open. The question running through the minds of many African Americans, particularly black church folks is where and when will […]
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Isaiah 40:4-8, Psalm 85: 8, 10, 11, 13 This time of year, a second candle is lit and people speak an elusive word: Peace. Unfortunately, I’m not sure we are all that honest about this word. Do we really believe in peace? I mean, it certainly doesn’t seem like we believe in it. Otherwise, we […]
Read MoreMatthew 16:13-20 I’ve been reading Bart Ehrman’s book, How Jesus Became God: The Exaltation of a Jewish Preacher from Galilee, over the last few months. I’m taking my time. It is a book that I think people who identify as Christians should most certainly read. It took Ehrman, a NT scholar, eight years to research […]
Read MoreMatthew 14:13-21 MIRACLE. According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary: 1: an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs 2: an extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing, or accomplishment Not sure what you consider to be a miracle. Does it have to be something religious—something related to a god or gods? Does it have to be […]
Read MoreJohn 20:19-31 The movie Philomena is based on the 2009 investigative book by British Broadcasting Corporation [BBC] correspondent Martin Sixsmith, entitled, The Lost Child of Philomena Lee. Philomena Lee, played by Judi Dench, is an older woman searching for her long-lost son. When Philomena was a young woman living in an Irish-Catholic community, she gave […]
Read MoreJohn 3:1-9 Last week, I participated in the Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia’s Interfaith Encounters Alternative Spring Break program for college students. I journeyed with students, faculty, and college staff professionals to encounter seven different religious traditions, including: Reconstructionist Jewish; Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Christian; Sikh; Quaker; Won Buddhist; Hindu; Black Muslim and Sunni Muslim. There […]
Read MoreMatthew 5:1-12 How do you greet people? How do people greet you? It depends on where you live, of course. In Hawai’i, someone might approach you and say: How’s it? In Philly and South Jersey, I hear this a lot: How YOU doin’? Or, this: Whazzup? or What’s up, yo? Or the really short version: […]
Read MoreIsaiah 11:1-10 I thought that there was no better way to start a message and conversation about peace than to hear from the late Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela who died at the age of 95 this past Thursday, December 5th. His life and work are a testimony to what real peacemaking looks like. And that is […]
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