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Reflection

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Select a Month December 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 December 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011

July 2013

July 10, 2013

Jesus Doesn’t Want You to be a Good Samaritan: Lectionary Reflection for Proper 10C

For three unconventional retellings of this parable to enliven the well-worn story, visit here (the...

June 2013

June 05, 2013

The Patron Saint of Poop: How My Kids Fell in Love with the Saints

Like most of my good ideas, this one happened by accident. Four days into the...

May 2013

May 28, 2013

Sleeping Through Storms: Rethinking Theodicy, Natural Disasters and God’s Omnipotence

God is not all-powerful. At least, not in the ways we tend to define power....

May 16, 2013

The Divine Protest of Pentecost

The God of Pentecost doesn't have an official language. This is the shocking revelation of...

May 15, 2013

Questions Not Answers: My Journey from Journalism to the Priesthood

In college, I thought that by the time I was 32, I would be working...

April 2013

April 15, 2013

Keeping Silence in Tragedy: In the Aftermath of Explosions

Violence and tragedy has again struck. And it is hard to know what to say,...

April 11, 2013

Transforming Film into Contemplative Prayer: A Review of Thom Stark’s ‘Who Art in Heaven’

Director Thom Stark summarizes his award-winning film Who Art in Heaven simply: "A Man Prays." But...

April 01, 2013

Easter for Doubters: The Unexpected Faith of Thomas (Lectionary Reflection for the Second Sunday in Easter)

It's Easter. Do not be afraid to doubt. Doubt boldly. Doubt joyfully. In fact,...

March 2013

March 13, 2013

The Lost Shepherd and the Amoral Love of God (Proper 19C Lectionary Reflection)

Lectionary Reflection - Proper 19 C - Luke 15:1-32 The Lord is my shepherd. I...

February 2013

February 28, 2013

God is a Gardener: A Homily for Lent 3C (Luke 13:1-9)

Lent 3C — Luke 13:1-9, 1 Cor. 10:1-13, Exodus 3:1-15 It doesn’t take much effort...

February 05, 2013

Pharaohs in America: On Beyoncé and blindspots

I am a pharaoh. Or at least, I am one of his people. As a...

February 04, 2013

A Defiant Dance of Power, Not Sex: Beyoncé, the Super Bowl and Durga

If what you saw onstage last night at the Super Bowl’s halftime show was a...

December 2012

December 18, 2012

Where God Weeps: Sandy Hook and the Myth of Redemptive Violence

God weeps. That, if anything, has been the primary theological response of Americans in the...

December 12, 2012

Born to Die?: Why the Cross Doesn’t Belong at Christmas

Yesterday, I passed a church sign that proclaimed Christmas was the story of a baby...

October 2012

October 11, 2012

When Jesus Invented a New Commandment

Mark 10:17-31/Proper 23B/Pentecost 20 “You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit...

October 03, 2012

Just Marriage: Jesus, Divorce and the Vulnerable (Lectionary Reflection)

Proper 22B/Pentecost 19 Mark 10:2-16 Earlier in the gospel of Mark, Jesus has a very...

October 02, 2012

The Rich Young Rulers of America and the Good News that Makes Us Sad (Lectionary Reflection)

I am the rich young ruler. And so are you. In the context of our...

October 02, 2012

Battle of the Sundays: Pulpit Freedom vs. World Communion

A curious thing is happening this Sunday in churches across America. For some, this curious...

October 01, 2012

The Transforming Death of God

This is the final post in a series on the death of God. Read part...

September 2012

September 11, 2012

In Conversation: Jesus, Racism and the Syrophoenician Woman

Last week, I published a lectionary essay exploring the exchange between Jesus and the unnamed...

September 07, 2012

A Liturgy for Sept. 11 (Prayers of the People and a Litany of the Dead)

The 11th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks is Tuesday, and for those remembering that...

September 04, 2012

The Orthodox Death of God

Over the next week, I will be posting a three-part essay on the death of...

April 2012

April 25, 2012

Still Waters and Death Valleys: A Lectionary Meditation

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he...

April 17, 2012

The Resurrection and Wounds that Won’t Heal

Some wounds do not heal. When I was a journalist, I remember sitting with the...

April 06, 2012

Unforgiving Jesus on the Cross

In the midst of his crucifixion, Jesus looks down and forgives his torturers, his crucifiers,...

March 2012

March 06, 2012

Caretakers of a Mystery (Lenten Meditation)

Throughout Lent, I will be posting short meditations on the Daily Office readings. Please journey...

March 01, 2012

Doubt and Suspended Animation (Daily Lenten Meditation)

Throughout Lent, I will be posting short meditations on the Daily Office readings every day....

February 2012

February 29, 2012

Bottom of a Well (Daily Lenten Meditation)

Throughout Lent, I will be posting short meditations on the Daily Office readings every day....

February 27, 2012

Dismembering the Body of Christ (Daily Lenten Meditation)

Throughout Lent, I will be posting short meditations on the Daily Office readings every day....

February 25, 2012

Contentment, Not Achievement (Daily Lenten Meditation)

Throughout Lent, I will be posting short meditations on the Daily Office readings every day....