Glory
Whenever I read passages where Jesus talks about glorifying God, or saying things like “glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed,”* I never quite understand what he means. Glory seems like an old-fashioned sort of word, one that is connected somehow with war, […]
Not to Abolish but to Fulfill
Today, Jesus tells me that I am the salt that is needed to add flavor to the bread that he offers, a light that allows others to see the abundant goodness of creation.* To make the point more emphatically, he says that I need to be even more scrupulous about following the rules than the […]
Dreaming of Angels
For those of us who follow the traditional Christian year, it’s still Christmas until Epiphany comes next week with the arrival of the Magi. But today’s Gospel story* seems to come out of order— the Magi have already come and gone, leaving danger behind along with their peculiar baby gifts. On the strength of a […]
Coming in the Name of Jesus
When his followers exclaim over the grandeur of the temple at Jerusalem, Jesus foresees the destruction of the city at the hands of the Roman occupying forces and the terrible things that will happen to those who resist their power.* He warns his listeners not to be afraid even when they are betrayed by trusted […]
