Choosing to Live
Beyond the veil of changelessnessProper 9B | Mark 6:1-13 drewdowns · Choosing to Live (Proper 9B) “You can’t go home again,” they say. It’s a phrase intended to temper expectations. Because we...
View ArticleThere must be something I should be doing.
Proper 7B | Mark 4:35-41 “There must be something else I should be doing.” That’s a thing isn’t it? The kind of toxic phrase that eats, not at your behavior, but your very sense of self. We try to...
View ArticleStorms—the frights of living and saving
Most of us can imagine a time when we felt the world was collapsing around us. The storm is raging and we aren’t sure how we are going to make it. And in the midst of it, there is somebody we care...
View ArticleBetween Easter 6 and 7 (Year B)
A look at the gaps in the lectionary. This week: the gap between Easter 6B and 7BThe text: John 15:18-17:5 After hearing about the vine and love, of connection and community, Jesus ends chapter 15 by...
View ArticlePeace—when we’re scared
What are the emotions we associate with Easter? Joy is first. Perhaps gratitude and a general uplift. But the resurrection appearances offer another which may be greater: peace. We are used to hearing...
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Between Easter 1 and 2 (Year B)
A look at the gaps in the lectionary. This week: the gap between Easter Day and Easter 2BThe text: none The lectionary proceeds straight from the resurrection story to the first post-resurrection...
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Always the Innocents
Photo by Mohammed Ibrahim on Unsplash On the fourth day of Christmas, we remember the consequence of the incarnation. When we gather to sing praise that the Christ child is born, the usurper king on...
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Light in darkening times
Photo by Jenny Huang on Unsplash [cropped to fit] The images captured by scripture, of light and dark, certainly ring true with the season. As days shorten and nights lengthen in the northern...
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When everything changes
Photo by Sandra Seitamaa on Unsplash The apocalyptic heart of AdventAdvent 1B | Mark 13:24-37 Happy Apocalypse, everybody! Yeah! Nothing says “ring in the new year” quite like “But in those days,...
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Light—and how much we fear the dark
Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash [cropped to fit] This week’s gospel invites us into a time of waiting in the dark. Waiting without knowing when we will be brought out. Feeling left. Alone....
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Between Proper 25 + 27 (Year A)
A look at the gaps in the lectionary. This week: the gap between Proper 25A and 27AThe text: Matthew 23-24 After several weeks of gospel readings proceeding directlty from the previous reading, we now...
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Actual Love
Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona on Unsplash The work we already know to doProper 23A | Matthew 22:1-14, Exodus 32:1-14 Jesus is at the Temple in Jerusalem. He had only, the day before, entered the...
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Showing Up
Photo by Michael Dziedzic on Unsplash (cropped by me) Living through tough timesGreat Vigil of Easter | Matthew 28:1-10 drewdowns · Showing Up (The Great Vigil of Easter Vigil) Now that is an...
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The Way Through
Photo by Scott Evans on Unsplash When we hear Jesus’s apocalyptic talk, we often shut down. Which means we avoid hearing the good news itself. And Fear as Avoidance MechanismProper 28C | Luke...
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Beyond a Temple
Photo by Arno Smit on Unsplash We hear Jesus talk about division and the destruction of the Temple with a sense of fear while he offers hope. For SundayProper 28C Collect Blessed Lord, who caused all...
View ArticleAfraid — fear of change is still fear
There are few things Jesus said more often than “fear not” and “don’t be afraid.” This was his calling card. Walking on water, freaking people out, doing miraculous things, coming back from the dead!...
View ArticleAccept
The real problem is not that we dislike change. It is that we often choose to refuse to accept that change is necessary. Episode 19 of the Make Saints podcast: “Accept” Who doesn’t love a new...
View ArticleTo Love Bravely
We avoid the truth to protect each other. What we’re actually protecting is dishonesty and the enemies of love. drewdowns · To Love Bravely (Epiphany 4C) Jesus defies our fear to share the...
View ArticleFear
Leaning in, not overcoming “Do not be afraid.” Jesus says this constantly. Often when the proverbial horse has left the barn. Telling us to not be afraid when we already are seems a bit…harsh. And...
View ArticleFear
This weekend, our plumbing backed up. It was gross. And as new homeowners, it was also scary. The solution, in the end, was quite simple and easily fixed. The plumbers came out, opened a pipe in the...
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