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Learning Perseverance
As the disciples leave the Temple, Jesus tells them a story. Not to scare them, but to warn them. Because we struggle to see the difference.
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Large
In this week’s gospel, the disciples are awed at the size of the Temple. It reminds me of moving to Boston from small-town Michigan and being surrounded by skyscrapers. The size inspires awe. So does the thought of how they were built. Jesus isn’t awed by it. Or, at least, he isn’t moved to be…
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Rescuing Sainthood
I’ve been thinking a lot about saints. Partly because it is that time of year. And partly because I launched a podcast with the word Saints in the title. But more than anything, I’m focused on what we, you and I, think of sainthood. There isn’t one universal experience with the concept of sainthood, but…
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Unbind Them
All Saints and All Souls Observed Collect Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you…
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Souls
Honoring all who came before When we gather for our midweek service on Thursday, we are often given to honoring the life of someone the church lifts up as part of “the Great Cloud of Witnesses”. Which is another way to refer to those people we frequently call saints. Our collection of saints includes all…
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A remarkable response
For the Twenty-Third Sunday after PentecostProper 26B Collect Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,…
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No more Messianic Secret
For Sunday, the Twenty-Second Sunday after PentecostProper 25B Collect Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for…