Tears – Jan. 6, 2023

“When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. When […]

Just Joy

The stories come, as Jesus’ stories often do, because people are grumbling at him.* He is hanging out with “sinners” again, and the religious folk don’t like it. So Jesus tells two parallel parables, the lost sheep and the lost coin, both of which he likens to repentant sinners. I’m not the first to notice […]

Expanding the Rules – July 20, 2022

“Jesus did not issue rules to be ticked off on a list; Jesus embodied the rule of love, a way of life to be followed, and to be fully, completely human… As a teacher, Jesus is not contradicting Moses or demeaning other Jewish teachers. He is offering his interpretation of the law… Jesus does not replace. Jesus […]

Desire for Emptiness – June 1, 2022

“All I bring to the darkness each night is what the Cloud author calls a “naked intent,” a wish to be empty and still in the presence of that for which I have no name. The author of the Cloud says that if you find this unexplainable desire welling up within you, simply wanting time without speech with one […]