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The Scandal of Lent
Every year I struggle with Lent. I struggle with what we are really called to do. Certain things are different, and yet we don’t really live all that differently. We fast or we take on new things or we mark our worship differently. But something doesn’t ring true about it for me. As I wrote…
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Redefining Marriage
a Homily for Proper 22B Text: Mark 10:2-16 Jesus condemns more than divorce Our story begins once again with the Pharisees asking Jesus a tricky question: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” Before we go any further, hear the question itself: not the one we wish were asked. not Is it right/moral/ethical…
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Of the soil
a Homily for Proper 18B Text: Mark 7:24-37 Is Jesus a Racist? The central figures of this pericope are Jesus and the Psyrophenician Woman. This woman comes to Jesus to heal her daughter who is possessed by a demon. The last time Jesus was over here, he dispelled a host of demons. Our lectionary skipped…
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Losing our morality in the death penalty
We are responsible. This isn’t about someone else. It is about us. We haven’t been doing enough. Last week, when confronted with the fact that he sent 234 inmates to their execution, including an innocent man, Texas Governor Rick Perry appeared jubilant and remorseless–and the Tea Party-filled crowd cheered. As I tweeted, I had visions…