“Hosanna to the Son of David!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Jesus wept.

I remember seeing a photo of the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Standing in front of the wall was Pope Francis….

Perspective matters.

Our perspective matters. 

The ways that we approach ourselves and the people around us is of ultimate importance.

We have all heard the expression:

            "I wish I could be a fly on the wall in that conversation. . . ."

Today’s scripture passages offer us faithful responses to God’s invitation to new life; however, these two responses take shape in very different ways.

Today is Ash Wednesday:

            the day we remember that we are dust…

                                                                               and breath.

Evelyn Underhill said that the first task of the clergy is union with God.

That is well and good, but why should it not be the first task of every Christian to seek union with God?

One of the gifts of The Episcopal Church is that from time to time we take Communion to folks who are not able to get to church for whatever reason.

What does it mean to live a “blessed” life?

Upon hearing today’s gospel reading proclaimed,

we might well have had the thought flit through our minds:

       “ah… it's just another calling story in the gospels.”

"What are you looking for?"

These are the first words out of Jesus’ mouth according to John’s Gospel.

You are worthy.

I am going to pause here for a moment and let that sink in.

You are worthy.

“The LORD bless you and keep you;

the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;

the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.” (Num 6:24-26)

There was no room for them in the inn. 

Why not?

Time is a strange thing…           
sometimes it creeps by,
even coming to a seeming halt in the midst of deep sorrow.

Have you ever noticed in Scripture…
at least in the Gospels,
that when an angel shows up,
the first thing out of the angel’s mouth is: Do Not Be Afraid!?

“Are you the one who is to come,
or are we to wait for another?”

That is a haunting question for John the Baptist to be asking!

 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”  (Mt 3:2)

Waiting is hard…

Well, today is quite the day of celebration,
and I have learned in my short time here that this community knows how to celebrate!