Sermons on Environment
The Rich Man and Lazarus
The parable of the rich man and Lazarus. It’s easy to poke a finger at the rich guy and say he should have helped the poor man sleeping in front of his gates, but aren’t we a bit like him?
WE ARE THE 99
Homer Simpson says “Beer, the cause and solution to all our problems.” I’d like to modify that to say humankind may be the cause of many of our problems, and we are also the solution.
The Entire Universe is Standing on Tiptoe
“The entire universe is standing on tiptoe, yearning to see the unveiling of God’s glorious sons and daughters!” Wow! The entire universe is waiting for us to get our act together?
A Prophet In Their Own Home
Ezekiel 2:1-52 Corinthians 12:2-10Mark 6:1-13 “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” That is a saying that resonates from my childhood – I can’t be sure but I think my mother quoted it when she was feeling under-appreciated. But I doubt that she actually saw herself as a prophet. We tend to think of prophets as those who utter prophecy, and prophecy as saying what will happen in…
The Time has Grown Short
Jonah 3:1-5, 10 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 Mark 1:14-20 I confess that I procrastinate. This will not be news to most of you. Before my brain really kicks in to get something done, I have to develop a sense of urgency. Today’s readings all have a sense of urgency – “the appointed time has grown short”, “the time is fulfilled”. You would think that even someone as dedicated to challenging deadlines as I, would get that something is up. But…
Live the Antidote
Don’t you love the so-called “comfortable words”, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” I often wonder what was in the minds of those who created the lectionary. Why did they choose this…
Rainbows and Christ
Long before it was a symbol of diversity and gay pride, the rainbow was a symbol of God’s unconditional covenant not just with humanity but with all flesh – all sentient beings upon the planet. That never again would a flood wipe everything out. “When the bow is in the clouds”, God told Noah, “I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” This is the…
Justice, justice
Jonah 3:4–10 Luke 10:25–37 In our Thursday Bible Study group we have started a study of Paul’s letter to the Romans which is an important yet difficult book. It inspired Luther to rebel against the Catholic church, and has spawned hundreds if not thousands of commentaries. It starts with a sweeping condemnation of all Gentiles rapidly followed by a sweeping condemnation of all Jews. The wrath of God is visited upon everyone. Only after we are thoroughly crushed does Paul…
The Fig Tree
Fig trees are especially suited to the Middle East because they can grow in poor soil and a seasonally dry climate, though they do need water and often grow deep roots to reach an underground water supply. The fig is one of the first plants that was cultivated by humanity and the ancient Hebrews considered it a sign of abundance. There is a passage in the prophet Micah which describes a future of peace and justice. It says: “The Lord…
No Separation
Welcome to the Season of Creation! It’s good to be here with you all again after two weeks of being away enjoying the wonders of God’s Creation. I was grateful to be north of the fires and so suffered very little from the smoke. We stayed in a little house with a veranda that looked into the forest and every morning and evening the bird feeder was visited by a tribe of steller’s jays. One of the interesting things about…