A Parable of Triumph or Tragedy?
Is the Parable of the Sower a comedy or a tragedy? It all depends on how you read it. The same is true of our lives.
Shame and Glory of the Cross
If you or I were starting our own religion, if we were outlining a new path to lead people to God, we would never choose the cross as our symbol.
What Labels Convey
As followers of Jesus, we are asked to deal with people, not through the labels they bear, but as the people that they are.
Avoiding Idolatry
Every time we try to shrink the idea of God down to a size that we can understand or control, we create a false god and engage in idolatry.
God Is With Us Forever
God is closer to us than we are to ourselves. The enormity of that truth has tremendous power to shape the way that we live.
Who Killed Jesus?
A naïve reading of the accounts of Jesus’ passion can lead to the conclusion that the Jewish people were responsible for Jesus’ death.
The Emptiness of Easter
Easter is a joyful feast. But the beginning of Easter is emptiness. Every gospel writer begins the story of Easter with the empty tomb.
Doing the Work of Christ
If our faith does not make some impact on the ordinary things we do day in and day out it is doubtful whether that faith is real.
Blood, Money, the Paranormal
Blood, money, and the paranormal spur instant curiosity. They are the bread and butter of any story teller or promoter. Matthew’s passion narrative is characterized by these three elements.
Re-Imaginig Sheep
Sheep are dumb animals. Yet if Jesus is the shepherd, we are the sheep. Are they really the best image to describe our role as followers of Jesus?
A Body to Touch
What is the meaning of the curious invitation by Jesus to Thomas to take his finger and place it into the gash on Jesus’ side? Why would Thomas want to do this?
Life in the Presence of Death
The life that Jesus offers us today is not life instead of evil, but life in the midst of evil. He promises us that we can have life, even in the presence of death.