Fascinating stories headline today’s readings. We begin with the middle section of the story of Joseph from Genesis, picking up at the point where Joseph has become rich and powerful in Egypt. He receives the brothers who betrayed him with equanimity and offers them gifts and riches to return to Canaan and bring their father, Jacob, to him in Egypt. Forgiveness in the face
What are we to make of Jesus not doing deeds of power due to the lack of belief of the people in his hometown of Nazareth? Just prior to this scene in Mark’s Gospel, we encounter stories of extraordinary healing miracles that include pleas for help. Jairus begs Jesus to heal his daughter. The woman with a hemorrhage boldly reached out for Jesus and
Lord, God, our Father, we thank you that here with each other we can call on you and listen to you. Before you, we are all equal. You know the life, thoughts, path, and heart of each of us, down to the smallest and most hidden detail, and before your eyes none is righteous, no, not one. But you have not forgotten, rejected or
Déjà vu, all over again: “I wonder who that masked man was?!” Two stories of mistaken identity. No, worse: of hindered recognition! In Genesis 43, famine has struck. Joseph’s brothers journey to buy corn from the Pharoah, as there are supplies still in Egypt. They’ve already made one successful trip; however they failed to notice that their benefactor, Pharoah’s #1 Man, is … their
On an upcoming pilgrimage to Tanzania, where our sister village of Gawaye is, parishioner Ethan Mandel will represent the Church of the Ascension, bringing greetings and gifts to the church in Gawaye. But we need your help to send him there — and then bring him back home!
Whenever Paul starts writing about sin, many people get squeamish, particularly if they have to read aloud some of his long lists of sins. It feels like there’s something of the Pharisee still lingering in his disposition, even though he preaches that the works of the Law cannot save us. Today’s passage from his letter to the Corinthians, however, opens new insight into his
Barbara Cawthorne Crafton is an Episcopal priest and author. She heads The Geranium Farm, an institute for the promotion of spiritual growth. The Farm publishes her Almost-Daily eMo, a meditation read online by tens of thousands worldwide via email and social media. She has served a number of churches, including historic Trinity Church, Wall Street, St. John’s-in-the-Village in Greenwich Village, St. Clement’s in Manhattan’s theatre
How can I prepare myself to be “good soil”? Many years ago I worked with a woman I didn’t get along with. I had lots of good reasons to dislike this woman. She made my life miserable and I nursed that resentment for years. Then one day, I realized that the anger I was carrying was hurting me more than it was hurting her.
I like this passage as I do most that reveal the human side of Jesus. Here his ministry clearly is starting to heat up: crowds are thronging and follow him home, his family and many others think he’s crazy, and the Pharisees proclaim he is possessed by the devil. Sounding maybe even a bit peeved, Jesus dismisses the latter with a clever rhetorical flourish
Do we, in Mark’s Gospel passage, witness the most significant and important act of delegation in the history of the world? We see and hear it every day: “Can you assist me with this?” “Can you take something off my plate?” “I’m in the weeds – can you help me out?” It makes our lives – work and personal – more manageable, more tolerable,