The resurrection stories present quite a mysterious Jesus—familiar in so many ways to the Jesus we hear about before the crucifixion and yet often unrecognized by even the closest followers. In the gospel accounts, the resurrected Jesus is revealed by different means. To start, in the gospel of Mark we are simply told Jesus appeared […]
On the Good Shepherd
One of my favorite “Easter eggs” of Eastertide is Good Shepherd Sunday. Nowadays often the fourth Sunday of Easter, this Christian sabbath day is all about the imagery of our Lord as a shepherd and we humans as the sheep. It is imagery that is rooted in the Old Testament scriptures (most famously, Psalm 23) […]
On Joyful Disbelief
Disbelief gets a hard rap, and sometimes for good measure. Jesus critiques the disbelief of the disciples quite often in the scriptures. However, the resurrection narratives found in the gospels remind us that not all disbelief is the same. After Jesus is buried in the tomb and all hope seems lost, the disciples are overwhelmed […]
On Point of View
A recurring theme on this blog has been that of respecting and honoring different perspectives. In the four gospel narratives, there is perhaps no greater point of deviation than what is told in the post-resurrection accounts. Each book seems to have an entirely different take on what happened after Jesus was buried. In the first […]
On Easter Morning
Oh happy day to outshine all other happy days! The Lord is risen! The Lord is risen, indeed! It’s easy to think that Christianity revolves around the crucifixion, however it is really anchored in the resurrection. Jesus’ celebrated triumph over the dead is the greatest mystery of them all and the greatest hope for humanity […]
On the Cross
In many newly built or recently renovated Christian worship spaces these days you will often discover something missing from the contemporary design: a cross or crucifix. In its place usually is a giant screen and stagecraft used for pop concerts. Ironically, many of these churches have strong stances against “the progressive agenda” and yet when […]
On the Table
The Lord’s Supper (also referred to as Holy Communion or the Eucharist) is venerated on Maundy Thursday, as we remember when Jesus first instituted this sacrament during his final Passover Seder. (Side note: The responses I received from my reflection on Maundy Thursday last year inspired this current year-long series on the Church Year.) For […]
On Happy Days
If the Liturgical Calendar is a rollercoaster of sorts, Holy Week is when the most number of corkscrews, loops, drops, and twists occur. The week starts, though, with a smile as we ride up the lift-hill. Jesus enters Jerusalem for Passover, welcomed as a conquering hero. He rides a colt symbolizing peace while crowds gather […]
On the Paschal Moon
Have you ever noticed that there is always a full moon around the lead up to Easter? That is by design and this specific full moon is called the Paschal Moon. The date of Easter is determined by a somewhat cumbersome calculation: the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal (spring) equinox, […]
On Seasonal Side Effects
The various seasons of the Church Year provide opportunities to explore different aspects of our faith. Each season brings with it certain rituals and practices and it can be easy to simply go through the motions without ever growing spiritually. When we choose to fully embrace each season we discover holistic spiritual health that nurtures […]
Relevant Reformation 