We know that here, in the midst of the difficult lessons and obscurity, there is meaning and value. Jesus’ teachings offer us truth that is loving, liberating, and life-giving. This sort of truth, the words of eternal life, while powerful is not simple or easy. If it was, well, we wouldn’t need to be here.
"There is in this world no such force as the force of a person determined to rise. The human soul cannot be permanently chained." These are the words of civil rights activist and scholar W. E. B. Du Bois, whom we commemorate today as a holy man. He was the first black man to graduate …
Have you ever had your authority questioned? In our Gospel reading today we hear those who have societally granted power say to Jesus: “By what authority are you doing these things?” and “And who gave you this authority?” It’s like they are saying, “Who do you think you are, get back in place.” It doesn’t always …
We don’t have to be all things to all people. You don’t have to try to be the foot and the hand and the eye and the ear all of the time. We all have God given gifts. Sometimes we are called to be the eyes to notice where the world around us needs healing. Sometimes we are the feet and are called to go to where our gifts can be put to use. Sometimes we are a listening ear or a helping hand or a mouth speaking the truth in love. Yet, this is always true: “Christ has no body now on earth but yours.” You will always be the body, so go forth and live in love.
This morning we read two parables from the Gospel according to Matthew: of the mustard seed and of leaven. These two are in the company of many other parables told by Jesus throughout the Gospels. As our text today tells us: “Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told …
Amrita, for a while, talked about wanting to be a dragon – flying above our heads and destroying evil. Her imagination was limitless. This curiosity and creativity was a part of her spirit even when she was having a difficult time. Every day that I spent with her was filled with wonder and laughter. Amrita, our dragon, breathes the fire of passion into our hearts and inspires us in the way she was inspired to imagine the world into being a better place.
In the Old Testament reading we learn of Moses setting up the tabernacle. The text is filled with lots of detail of the construction and how things were put into place. What items were necessary and where they found their homes. All of these things in order to create a context which was right for …
