temptation and the will of God – a reflection on Luke 4:1-13

February 11, 2013
by rick
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Gospels / Lectionary / Lent / New Testament / Year C

The following is a reflection on Luke 4:1-13, the Gospel lesson appointed for the first Sunday in Lent, Year C, according to the Revised Common Lectionary.

A “fierce camel” from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Temptation. Let me go out on a limb here and say that most of us aren’t tempted to do truly diabolical things, because most of us aren’t diabolical people.

I’ve never been tempted to kill anyone. Or to steal a car. Or abduct a child. Or hurt someone just for the pleasure of hurting them.

And, if you’re reading this blog, I bet you would say the same things. (My blog’s settings filter out the truly diabolical…)

But, temptation…ah, don’t fool yourself. We’re all tempted. Read More

book review: Speaking Faithfully

February 4, 2013
by rick
comments 2
book review

Click on the image above to be taken to the book’s listing on Amazon.

I remember very clearly the time I told a young man in a town park that I was the new vicar of the church down the street, because his answer was classic: “Oh…is that still a church?”

I was stunned, and let out a short burst of nervous laughter. “Uh, yep! Still a church!” Read More

in the cloud – a reflection on Luke 9:28-36

January 31, 2013
by rick
comments 3
Christology / Exodus / Gospels / Lectionary / New Testament / Old Testament / Pentateuch / Religion / Temple / Year C

The following is a reflection on Luke 9:28-36, the Gospel lesson for the Last Sunday in Epiphany, year C, according to the revised common lectionary.

While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”

When the Israelites were freed from Pharaoh’s hand, and they were wandering in the wilderness, God’s Presence stayed with them in visible way: a pillar of fire by night, and a pillar of cloud by day. When they got scared, hungry, thirsty, and they needed to find God—all they needed to do was look to the cloud. Read More

the excellent way – a reflection on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

January 24, 2013
by rick
comment 1
Epiphany / Epistles / Lectionary / New Testament / Year C

The following is a reflection on the thirteenth chapter of Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians.

Pillar in Temple Church, London. Photo by Rick Morley.

Wouldn’t you like to speak “in the tongues of mortals and of angels?” Wouldn’t it be such great fun to bowl people over with divine eloquence every time you open your mouth!? Read More

breaking bread together, a book

January 18, 2013
by rick
comments 2
book review
Photo Jan 09, 2 11 14 PM

“One day a huge crowd came to hear Jesus talk about the amazing power of God’s love. Thousands showed up. Adults, teenagers, and children all wanted to see Jesus. Jesus led them all up to the top of a high mountain, and he talked to them all day long about how much God loves us. There was a problem though. It got late and the people began to get hungry for dinner. On the top of the mountain there were no stores, and certainly no restaurants. There was practically nothing to eat. And even though the people loved listening to Jesus…their bellies started to rumble. And the littlest kids…well, they started to fuss a bit.”

So, I put together a little book…

As many of you probably know my wife and I have two girls, and like many young parents these days we spend the last moments of the day with them reading—either us reading to them, or vice versa.

Some years ago I put together a small book on Holy Communion, which I had made up for my own kids and the children of the parish that I serve. I wanted something that I could read with my children that would give them the basics of the story of Jesus, the story of the Last Supper, and make the connections between those stories and what we do week-by-week in church.

I took some of the feedback that my toughest critics (my children!) gave me, and I reworked that little book from the ground up, and thus was born Breaking Bread Together. Read More

eyes fixed – a reflection on Luke 4:14-21

January 18, 2013
by rick
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Epiphany / Gospels / Lectionary / Major Prophets / New Testament / Religion / Year C

The following is a reflection on Luke 4:14-21, the Gospel lesson for the Epiphany 3C, according to the Revised Common Lectionary.

A view from the Chapel of the Good Shepherd at General Seminary in New York City.
Photo by Rick Morley.

There is no shortage of commentary on this passage, oftentimes known as the “Nazareth Inaugural.” In some ways it’s become the manifesto of mainline Christianity. I remember my days in seminary hearing this passage almost monthly.

Personally, I love the drama of the scene. Read More

party on – a reflection on John 2:1-11

January 10, 2013
by rick
comments 6
Christology / Epiphany / Eschatology / Gospels / Lectionary / New Testament / Religion / Year C

The following is a reflection on John 2:1-11, the Gospel lesson appointed for Epiphany 2C, according to the Revised Common Lectionary.

In the 25th chapter of Isaiah we find a beautiful vision of what happens when God’s victory is made manifest:

On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoplesa feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines,of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.

A feast. Rich food. Well-aged wines.

Sounds pretty good, right? Read More

beloved – a reflection on Luke 3:15-17,21-22

January 7, 2013
by rick
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Christology / Creation / Epiphany / Gospels / Lectionary / New Testament / Year C

The following is a reflection on Luke 3:15-17, 21-22, the Gospel lesson for the first Sunday after the Epiphany Year C, according to the Revised Common Lectionary.

‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’

Of course this incredible Divine statement is made in the context of Jesus being baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. But, it’s also important to keep reading on for a verse or two.

For no sooner is Jesus proclaimed to be God’s Son, than Luke launches into his genealogy of Jesus. Read More

let the parade go on – a reflection on Epiphany

December 31, 2012
by rick
comment 1
Epiphany / Gospels / Lectionary / New Testament / Religion

The following is a reflection on the Feast of the Epiphany, and Matthew 2:1-12 in particular.

window

My wife and I saw the new James Bond movie the other day. It was a wonderful little distraction before entering into the maelstrom of Christmas Eve. We’ve always loved the James Bond movies—in fact one of our first “dates” was watching a Bond marathon.

The villain in the new movie, Skyfall, is quite a man to behold. He’s not after world domination or riches. One might say that he’s after revenge. But, really it’s not that. He just wants to exert his dominance over someone from his past, and hurt that person very much. He doesn’t even care if he goes down in the pursuit of this goal.

He’s mad, in the “insane” sense of the word.

And, it’s clear that underneath his facade of rage and thirst to inflict pain is really just fear. Fear gone wrong.

With that in the background, it’s hard not to see Herod in that same light. Read More