February 27, 2022 - Quinquagesima

Lectionary Readings

O God of grace and glory, may your radiance always bring brightness to our world ✠ in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

            Over the past two months, we’ve been in the season after the Epiphany. Epiphany is the name we give to the Biblical story where the magi come and offer gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Christ-child. It’s a significant event because, in the glory of the star that guided the magi there and in their gifts, we see the glory of God in Jesus. It’s also a significant event because these magi are not Jewish – which is a signal that Jesus is not the only the King of the Jews as the charge against him on Good Friday will read, but he is also the Savior of the whole world. The theme for these Sundays after Epipany is about us getting glimpses of this glory of God that has been revealed for all to come and see.

February 20, 2022 - Sexagesima

Lectionary Readings

Gracious God, we thank you for renewing us in your love ✠ in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

            You all know that I often preach about love, but this isn’t some new fad or agenda. Consider the profound Collect that our liturgy opened with: “O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing: Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you.” That prayer was written in 1549, so hardly a passing trend. Love really is what it’s all about. As I’ve said many times though, the sort of love that we’re talking about is more than a feeling; it is a priority, an orientation, a commitment, an action. If it’s true that a picture is worth a thousand words, the best depiction of love is Jesus on the cross. That is what love is all about.

February 13, 2022 - Septuagesima

 

Lectionary Readings

O God, we give you thanks for the blessing of a life worth living ✠ in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

            In May, if you so choose, you can attend a conference called “In Pursuit of Happiness.” It’s hosted by the magazine The Atlantic in Half Moon Bay, California at the Ritz Carlton and will feature artists, business leaders, philosophers, and neuroscientists who, the event registration webpage promises, will give you “the skills to cultivate new rituals and pursue more purpose.” Registration is $700, and you’ll still need to cover lodging at the Ritz,  airfare, and food. It’s brilliant marketing – take the message of Jesus, strip out the God-language, and charge people hundreds of dollars for the stuff that the Church has known for centuries. Suffice to say, I’m not planning to attend. And if you’re thinking of attending, just stay here and I’ll give you a better price on pursuit of happiness.

February 6, 2022 - The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

Lectionary Readings

In the name of the God who is holy, holy, holy ✠ Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

            If you let your imagination run wild, what would your greatest success look like? Building a business that becomes a Fortune 500 company? Getting into your dream school on a full scholarship, graduating summa cum laude, and then landing your dream job after graduation? Discovering or inventing something that would make you rich and famous? Perhaps becoming our nation’s most beloved President and becoming the fifth face on Mount Rushmore? Having your kids being happy, financially independent, and winning the Nobel Prize or Olympic gold? Being the Rector of the largest church in Salisbury?