As I read the horrifying descriptions of the time of trial in today’s passage from Mark, my mind turned to recent accounts I’ve heard from survivors of the Tsunami in Japan and of the attack upon the World Trade Center
Again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, count the people of Israel and Judah.”
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the
When I read the story of the generous widow, I always think of Margaret…
We who have many good things, perhaps too many, as even those of us who live relatively simple lives by the standards of our culture do? We are to use these good gifts to show mercy. Not because that makes us especially good or deserving of praise, but because it sets our hearts free from any master less than God and rectifies an injustice that is in fact killing our neighbors.
In our system, it is the government that is charged by the Constitution to “form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty.” That is a worthy cause.
All three of today’s readings are stories of the dirty muck of power and politics. If you thought you’d mind your own business today, retreat into the private purity of your sanctuary, turn off the TV, ignore the newspaper, read the scriptures, and simply pray the Daily Office… Gotcha.
She becomes in prayer the place where it is said that all human loving reaches its fulfillment as it becomes the love of God, as it becomes loving God.
“You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life;…” –John 5:39 (NRSV) Sitting at the desk of my days Pages
“After I had returned to Jerusalem and while I was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance and saw Jesus saying to me,