All posts tagged: Morley

Proper 12C: thoughts and exegesis

July 18, 2010
by Fr. Rick Morley
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Gospels / Lectionary / New Testament

Yes, this has been a rambling post, written by one who is still a little off-kilter from international travel, and who pines after the verdant hills of the Mother Country. But, here's what I want to say about prayer: it's important. It effects not only people, but places. It soaks into stone and wood, and grafts itself into the landscape. It's becoming rarer and rarer, apparently even in churches. And, it needs to be neither long nor impressive to be a holy experience.

Proper 11C: thoughts and exegesis

July 11, 2010
by Fr. Rick Morley
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Lectionary / Minor Prophets / Old Testament

A basket of summer fruit. Our lesson begins with a beautiful image, so appropriate to the season. A basket of summer fruit that God sets before His people. Ah, isn't all right in the universe? "The end has come upon my people Israel;I will never again pass them by.The songs of the temple shall become wailings in that day,"says the Lord GOD;"the dead bodies shall be many,cast out in every place. Be silent!" Oh. Oh dear.

Proper 8C: thoughts and exegesis

June 14, 2010
by Fr. Rick Morley
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Creation / Exodus / Historical Books / Lectionary / Old Testament

This is one of those stories that reminds us, that God not only calls us, but equips us with what we need to fulfill our calling. It's a powerful reminder that we're called to great things - that God expects great things - awesome things - from us, but that God doesn't expect us to do it on our own. Not because we're lazy, but because the things God asks us to do are oftentimes outside the realm of human possibility.

Pentecost: thoughts and exegesis

May 12, 2010
by Fr. Rick Morley
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Acts / Creation / Exodus / Lectionary / New Testament / Old Testament

Cause if we just sink into the mire of Christian blandness we might as well just climb back into the upper room. And lock the door. I heard it's safe in there. But when the Spirit of God moved on the waters, and Light shined forth, and the morning stars sang together with all the heavenly host - when that hunk of clay took its first breath direct from the lungs of God - when the white-hot fire of God swooped down from Heaven and set a bush on fire/ blazed a trail in the wilderness/ filled the Temple with God's Presence/ brought forth the Holy Spirit and set the disciples' heads literally on fire. . . there was nothing bland about any of it.

Easter 7C: thoughts and exegesis

May 6, 2010
by Fr. Rick Morley
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Acts / Lectionary / Paul

And, maybe it's not the central meaning of this passage from the Book of Acts, but what this perspective at least demonstrates is that ministry, and blessing, and prayer all happen in the midst of the messiness of human emotion. There's that awful preconceived notion that the Christian life is supposed to be one of calm serenity, if not outright blandness. There's an unspoken (though maybe in some circles it IS spoken) platitude that if we're close to the heart of God we just smile all the time and put up with anything and anyone without bother. Bologna.