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Feeding, Healing, Sailing

Feeding, Healing, SailingPentecost 10; John 6:1-21Fish and loaves multipliedcannot feed jaded lives.Bellies full, vacant soulsransacked by affluence,will not seek Jesus outon a hill, by a lake,will not reach praying hands:“Teacher, feed! Wise One, heal!”When the storms overwhelm,and this Earth, like a boat,balance lost, starts to sink,darkened eyes, fixed on fear,will not see Jesus walk.Only say,Continue reading “Feeding, Healing, Sailing”

Sacred Dance

Sacred DancePentecost 7, 2 Samuel 6, 1-5, 12-20, Mark 6:14-29I have witnessed sacred dancingthat has stirred my very being:wordless meaning that’s enhancingprayer inspired by what I’m seeing –spirit stirring, feelings freeing.Yet our mainstream church disdains it,though the censure is unspoken:formal liturgy restrains itinto gestures that are token,careful that no power is woken.With exuberance, King DaviddancedContinue reading “Sacred Dance”

Shake Off the Dust and Move On

Shake Off the Dust and Move OnPentecost 7; Mark 6:11If you find no welcome thereand your words seem wasted air,shake off the dust and move on.Don’t despair if they don’t care;turn your back on their stony stare.Shake off the dust and move on.If your joy in being dies,captured by restraints and ties,shake off the dustContinue reading “Shake Off the Dust and Move On”

Daughter, Your Faith Has Made You Well

Daughter, Your Faith Has Made You WellPentecost 6, Mark 5:21-43She touched his cloak, believing she would heal.The bleeding stopped; she knew that she was free.His power went forth, a flow that he could feel.“Who touched my clothes?” he said and turned to see.She found the strength to own what she had done;her honest courage helpedContinue reading “Daughter, Your Faith Has Made You Well”

Who then is this?

Who then is this?Pentecost 5, Mark 4:35-41“Who then is this?” we ask.Do winds and waves obeya being set apartwith words we dare not say,not even when we pray?“Who then is this?” we ask.A man so spent and wornhe cannot help but sleep,although the skies are tornand there may be no dawn.“Who then is this?” weContinue reading “Who then is this?”

Changing our Point of View

Changing our Point of ViewPentecost 4, 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17, Mark 4:26-34For anyone in Christa new creation callsin love that urges change:to walk by faith not sight,to live not for ourselvesbut with the risen Christ,to lift our blinkered gazefrom human points of view.The old has passed away:the world no longer spinson axisContinue reading “Changing our Point of View”

Home not Home

Home not HomePentecost 3, Mark 3:19b-35Then he went home; perhaps he hopedfor quiet time with family,affection free of fresh demands,a sheltered space of privacythat might restore his energy.But crowds came, urgent in their need,and sought him out. The streets were lined,and villagers, resentful, said:“Young carpenter has lost his mind!”Familiarity is blind.Perhaps his brothers felt ashamed,orContinue reading “Home not Home”

What if Jesus Says “Eat!”

What if Jesus says “Eat!”Pentecost 2; Mark 2:23-3:6Long held rules seem to say:“Don’t let hunger prevail,though you walk in ripe fields!Keep the Sabbath rites pure!”Then though Jesus says: “Eat!”,Pharisees lurk in waitto accuse and conspire,using law as their power.Can we let Christ be Lordof the Sabbath as well?Are we governed by rulesthat he might setContinue reading “What if Jesus Says “Eat!””

Nicodemus at Night

Nicodemus at Night Trinity Sunday; John 3:1-17Then Nicodemus came by night –a man of law-trained, literal mindreplete with Scripture he could cite.He knew his peers would be unkind,so sure of ways they thought were right,but he must see what he would find.Perhaps this Jesus came from God -some words rang true, he’d seen the signs,butContinue reading “Nicodemus at Night”