But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty." Matthew 13. 18 - 23 Jesus' parable today metaphorizes the soil of our hearts and how well it receives the love and message of the Good News. If our hearts are shallow, the metaphorical seeds of the word of God might root but they will soon wither away because there is no nourishme

"While walking through the woods one day, I was surprised to hear a child's voice. I followed the sound, trying in vain to understand the child's words. When I spotted a boy perched on a rock, I realized why his words had made no sense: he was repeating the alphabet. 'Why are you saying your ABCs so many times?' I asked him. The child replied, 'I'm saying my prayers?' I couldn't help but laugh. "Prayers? All I hear is the alphabet.' Patiently the child explained, 'Well, I don

“God is Love and those who abide in love abide in God” 1John 4.7-16 My eight year old grandson and I had just been to the top of the Eiffel Tower, a dream of a lifetime for us both. We climbed the stairs as far as they would let us and the took the elevator the rest of the way. The 360 degree view of the rooftops of Paris was daunting, thrilling and breathtaking. Lane’s smile will stay with me for the rest of my life. The walk from our hotel took about 45 minutes, so after cl

We thank you for the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love. A General Thanksgiving BCP As I listened to the General Thanksgiving yesterday morning, the phrase “mystery of love” jumped out at me, because I have come across several reflections this week about the oddity of the Trinitarian concept...three in one, one in three and all the theological problems that go with it. The Trinity seems to be a mystery to many pe

"We need to pledge ourselves anew to the cause of Christ. We must recapture the spirit of the early church." Martin Luther King Jr. Strength to Love In his book Strength to Love, a prophetic text about the principles and practices of nonviolence, MLK jr. speaks words as relevant today as they were in 1963 when the sermons in the book were compiled. Addressing questions like: Why does God allow evil? What can we do in the face of evil in the world? How can we confront t

This article by Andrew Thayer, digital creator and member of the Episcopal Church Facebook page, explains better than any I have ever read what Pentecost means to me. I offer it to you today, though it is a bit long, as an understanding of the power of the Holy Spirit and her presence "in the beginning." I hope it touches you as it has me and that the Fire of God's Love is kindled in you in a new and different way. Pentecost is frequently described as the moment the Holy Spi

And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28. 16 - 20 On this day we remember Jesus' Ascension, when he rose into heaven "to sit at the right hand of God." There are five narratives of this rising (uprising as some have called it), thus only believing one interpretation inherently means missing the full understanding of the story Each of the four gospels has a different command from Jesus as he ascends to the disciples. Matthew says "Go." Luke say