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This is not the Way of Love
The challenge Jesus offers us is to look past our assumptions about sin and tragedy and instead toward what we do to each other.
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In-Between – Luke 11:14-12:13
In this in-between, we get a whole host of teaching on what loving does and doesn’t look like.
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Blurring the Lines – How Jesus Alters Expectations Of Justice
“Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!” As much as I don’t want to preach on this gospel today, I fear for the thousands of churches and church goers who will wrestle with such a tricky and troubling passage. And how many…
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Watching By Forgiving Debts
There’s a single word in the Lord’s Prayer we often miss. Remember a few weeks ago how the disciples asked Jesus how to pray? He responded with a familiar prayer about hallowing, heaven, and daily bread. Then he says And forgive us our sins,for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. Did you notice? Jesus links sin and indebtedness.…
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Inheritance Transformed
It feels like we live in a divided country. But nothing divides more than inheritance. It sicks brother against brother. Sister against sister. Inheritance is not the blessing of ongoing protection but the curse of future division. In my own family, I’ve seen family members force a sibling to pay a double share while a…
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Love Divided
a homily for Proper 15C Text: Luke 12:49-56 A stressed-out Jesus Stress is popping out of Jesus in this text. As much as He may be trying to contain it, He can’t keep it all in. This that He is doing, this baptism of fire, is stressing Him out. He seems to be coming unhinged.…
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Jesus Divides Parents and Children
In tomorrow’s gospel from Luke (12:49-56), we get a most striking vision of a pissed off Jesus complaining about His burdens and claiming (in my 21st Century voice) You think I’m the bringer of peace! Idiots! I bring conflict! It is a hard enough gospel to take, and my (very different) homily will go up…
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No Worries
a homily for Proper 14C Text: Luke 12:32-40 Hoard Thinking all the way back to last week, Jesus was asked to settle a property dispute. Two brothers were arguing over property and invite Jesus, the holy man, to help them settle it. Seems natural enough. Let’s call on the guy who can help us settle on…