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The Seduction of Empire—rejecting its offer of fake peace
In the turning point in the gospel of Mark, Jesus is confronted with Peter’s ignorance and empire’s promise of safe oppression.
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Unholy Expectations
In Jesus’s first passion prediction, we encounter the language of Messiah and cross-carrying, which we need some untangling.
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The Turning Point—for Proper 19B
In this week’s reflection, we look at Peter’s proclamation of Jesus as the Messiah and what we should learn from mission confusion.
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After the Interruption
This past week, we celebrated Holypalooza for the eighth time in nine years. It was a celebration full of emotion as we long for “normal” and celebrate this joyous opportunity. It also represented a shift in direction; the natural evolution of time and circumstance. The vision of its three founding pastors (now long gone from…
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Repentance
We are already turning The word repent means to turn and go another way. In Mark, we see that repentance is the driver of Jesus’s ministry and the very mantle he takes up from John the Baptizer. It is also what Jesus demonstrates in Mark 8, when he rebukes Peter for getting between him and…
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Failing the Pop Quiz
“Get behind me, Satan!” is one of the most shocking phrases in the gospels. It is also one of the most revealing.
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Without Fear and Longing
For SundaySixteenth Sunday after Pentecost Collect O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.Amen. Reading…
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courage
Gracefully living in the now. Peter shows courage in naming Jesus Messiah. He also shows courage in standing up to Jesus in the moment. Jesus shows courage in confronting that temptation to avoid the challenge ahead of them. Following Jesus takes courage. It often seems like we encourage one another to display courage to benefit…