Άνθρωπον ζητώ ("I seek a human being.") Diogenes, the great 4th century BC philosopher, spoke those words as he walked around with a lamp in broad daylight. Diogenes the Cynic, he is often called, one of the founders of Cynic philosophy - but don't confuse Cynic philosophy with the cheap cynicism most of us engage …
God is Working Still
Jean Vanier introduces his meditation on chapter 5 of John this way: The first time Jesus journeys with his disciples to Jerusalem he goes to the Temple, his “Father’s House.” The second time he goes to an asylum where rejected people are lying around unwanted. This is also his Father’s home. Jesus is calling his …
Do you trust?
Only John’s Gospel makes Thomas a significant character. The other three Gospels merely list him as one of the disciples. In John’s version of the life and teachings of Jesus, Thomas figures in three episodes. In the Lazarus episode, when Jesus decides to go to raise Lazarus, Thomas says, “Let us also go that we …
The Question of Holy Week
Two processions entered Jerusalem, perhaps on the same day, certainly in the same week... Audio file:
Be astonished, O disciple of Christ!
Without us knowing it, and perhaps without the Church intending it (!), the Sundays of Lent have done something of a discipleship catechism for us struggling disciples of Christ. I had never realized this, until I sat down to work on this sermon. The First Sunday of Lent promised visions of glory: You shall see the …
Jesus, teacher of the possible
Nasruddin was walking in the bazaar with a large group of followers. Whatever Nasruddin did, his followers immediately copied. Every few steps Nasruddin would stop and shake his hands in the air, touch his feet and jump up yelling "Hu Hu Hu!". So his followers would also stop and do exactly the same thing. One …
Tetelestai
God’s covenant with ancient Israel: circumcision/election, passover/redemption, sabbath/holiness. These were the most essential parts of the Law, the Torah. Sabbath came first, at creation, but it became canonized at Sinai. Sabbath was the sign of holiness to ancient Israel - and yet it belongs to all humanity from the 7th day of creation. The cross …
When Jesus is in the House
Jesus said: "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how …
A Jacob who plays no tricks
On this First Sunday of Lent the Orthodox Church commemorates the restoration of icons in the year 843, after many decades of iconoclastic controversy. In the Liturgy we read John 1:43-51, and one can reasonably wonder what this Gospel reading has to do with the restoration of icons. I choose to dig into the symbols …
Lent is a Bridge
Once upon a time there was a people who looked at what was happening around the world and in their own country and began to be concerned about their own survival. “How can we be sure that we will have enough when the crisis comes? Let’s start collecting food, materials, and knowledge so that …
Ancient Answers 