Guilt, sin, absolution — these concepts have much less currency today than they once did. Though a major emphasis of Christianity for centuries, guilt and sin lost much of their sting in the last century, making absolution seem less necessary. And yet, I think most of us still know that sin is endemic to our lives. We feel the guilt of having passed by
A series of “r” words surfaced in my mind in looking over these passages — rest, repair, replenish, reflecting. Individually and/or collectively these passages point to a direction we are to be mindful of and embrace in our lives. In the Hebrews passage we are extended an invitation to enter rest. Isaiah bids us to return to rest. The Psalm encourages us to reflect
In these days and nights of winter, there is much darkness. As I write on a frigid day, I know how quickly darkness will fall in the afternoon. I look out my window into the night sky and see a huge moon and a star. The light that emanates from the moon and the star glistens on rooftops and sidewalks. It is hopeful. It
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” starts Psalm 107. The readings for today talk about the goodness and power of God. Let us cry out to the Lord in our distress, and he shall respond to us with his unfailing love. But it’s not without bumps in the road. Let’s look at the passage in Exodus. Short
It troubles me to write about what appears to be a trinity of disparate passages and yet how much they run parallel to my own life right now. After living 37 years in NYC, I’m moving to the southern climate of Atlanta. I feel the love/hate of my walk in the wilderness of my life up to the present — perhaps like both Moses
I work in the public library. One of our posters reads: Everyone is welcome here …translated into a colorful series of different languages. Everyone who has come from all over the world to New York, and the library, is welcome; job seekers, new parents, English learners. The library is a safe space. Everyone is welcome. Every question is welcome: from how to fill out
Every time I read that Christ was sacrificed to take away my sins, it stirs up feelings of guilt. It’s a knee-jerk reaction, a feeling of overwhelming indebtedness to someone who has done something for me that I can never possibly repay. Then again, Jesus’ ministry wasn’t really about making people feel guilty. It was about love and acceptance and grace freely given, even
I am a doorkeeper every Friday at church from 12 to 1. So I can identify with this 10th verse of Psalm 84. Each Friday I welcome visitors at the front door of the church. They are from France, Italy, Germany, Brooklyn or the neighborhood. They are all looking for something — a beautiful church, spiritual comfort, or simply a place to sit and warm up and use their iPhones.
My thoughts continue to return to the physical transfiguration and the “dazzling white, whiter than anyone could bleach them” describing Jesus, his clothes and his appearance to the disciples. My focus on this white may come from the snowfalls we have had at the time of this writing and how pure and clean our city becomes when newly fallen snow blankets the usual gray sidewalks and roadways.