Lectionary Readings: Year A – Sixth Sunday in Easter One of the things my friends and I in college liked to do was to use fake church names that let people know that rather than going to church we instead decided to stay at home. You’ve probably heard a bunch of these. “Oh yeah, today…
As I looked at the Gospel reading for today, I was torn with all the directions that a sermon could go. The Gospel is about Joseph, Mary, and Jesus escaping the violence of Herod’s jealousy, as he seeks to kill the child Jesus. They escaped through a dream that Joseph had, and which protected him and his family. And then, the gospel concludes with another dream in which Joseph is told that it is now safe, and that he can bring his family back to Israel. And then again, yet another dream warns him not to go back to Bethlehem, but instead sends him off to a town called Nazareth.
And then, here comes a carpenter from Nazareth. He is performing miracles and casting out demons, and healing people, and sharing the Good News of God to all who will listen. And these leaders look at each other and say, “Well, this can’t be right. We’re the ones who are allowed to speak and act for God, not this guy.”
So what do they do?
They redefine miracles. And realign their beliefs that what they are seeing is not the full story, but that there is something shady going on behind the scenes. They reframe reality with a new theory that allows them to keep believing their own lie about their own importance.
I am gifted with a great imagination, and an analytical mind, and getting out of the boat, like Peter, to walk on the water toward a promise God has given me, makes me realize just how big those waves of doubt and uncertainty can be. Like a heads up display, I see every possible scenario, both good and bad, with its probability firmly floating above the wave, either granting hope, or threatening impending doom.
And this was Paul. As a Pharisee, under the authority of the Chief Priest, he pursued the followers of the Way to foreign countries and cities, with a relentless perseverance because he was “so furiously enraged” at them. And then when he became a follower of Christ, Paul pursued the conversion of people in foreign countries and cities with the same relentless perseverance that he showed in persecuting Christians before this moment beneath the bright light on the road to Damascus.
Mistaken Identity
Lectionary Readings: Year A – Proper 16 In 1882, Mark Twain published a little story here in the United States, which I’m sure all of you have heard about. It’s called The Prince and the Pauper, and it follows the lives of two young boys. One is Prince Edward VI, son of King Henry VIII…
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