The following is a reflection on John 6:35, 41-51, the Gospel lesson for Proper 14B, according to the Revised Common Lectionary.
“the coming” By Rick Morley
There was one brief, shining moment in the Hebrew Bible where things were pretty good. We had safety, and security, we had the Presence of God walking among us.
We had a nice garden.
And then we blew it. We had only been given one “thou shalt not,” and we couldn’t manage the “not” part. Read More
The following is a reflection on John 6:24-35, the Gospel lesson appointed for Proper 13B, according to the Revised Common Lectionary.
Photo by Rick Morley.
So…I think to fully understand the “I am the bread of life” text, we need to go back a few chapters in John. In chapter four, Jesus is talking to the woman at the well. Jesus offers her water, she marvels at his lack of a bucket with which to draw water, and he then says (in effect) that he’s not talking about the water in the well. If she drank that water she’d just get thirsty again.
But, who ever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.
Then comes the best part. Probably a little flummoxed, the woman responds:
Sir, give me this water.
It’s clear that the woman thinks that he’s just going to grab a bucket and find this nifty well…so that she “will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” But, to the reader, we know that the water Jesus is talking about can’t be drawn from any well on earth. It’s a gift from above, a gift from God.
Now, fast forward two chapters. Read More
The following is a reflection on John 6:1-21, the Gospel lesson appointed for Proper 12B, according to the Revised Common Lectionary.
A flower, emerging from the forest floor, on Easter Day 2012.
This Gospel lesson is full of bright-and-shiny things that are impressive, and which can command attention. Jesus feeds a lot of people with only a little bit of food. A few morsels of food end up becoming baskets and baskets of leftover pieces. Jesus walks on water.
Cool stuff, right?
Because these things are so cool, one might miss the reaction of the crowds, and even the reaction of the disciples: they really have no idea what is going on.
The following is a reflection on Mark 6:30-34, 53-56, the Gospel lesson properly appointed for Proper 11 year B.
“a deserted place for rest” Photo by Rick Morley
After an insanely busy and draining period of teaching, and exorcising, and healing—after Jesus and his disciples had given of themselves over and over again, day after day—Jesus tells his disciples, “come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.”
There are four different parts to this statement which mean something on their own, and amplify each other. Come away. To a deserted place. All by yourselves. And rest a while.
Goodness gracious, do we need to hear these words today. I think we need to slow down and savor them—and hear the permission and the inherent command to rest. Read More
The following is a reflection on Mark 6:14-29, the Gospel lesson appointed for proper 10B, according to the Revised Common Lectionary.
a Instagram pic I took on our mission trip to West Virginia in July 2012.
On its face, this is a strange lesson. Jesus is mentioned, but never says a word. People are coming up with all kinds of theories for how Jesus is able to do the things he does, and Herod kills John for the oddest of reasons.
The question that rises to the top for me is: Why does Mark tell this story?
The following is a reflection on Mark 6:1-13, the Gospel lesson appointed for Proper 9, year B, according to the Revised Common Lectionary.
“Cuthbert’s Island.” Photo by Rick Morley. TTV filter by borealnz.
Christianity in the west is in deep trouble. In America over 1/4th of adults have left the religion of their youth, most for no religion at all. In Europe, many grand cathedrals and basilicas are more like mausoleums than thriving centers of worship.
People are leaving the faith. But, unlike some, I don’t think the central problem is secularism or pluralism or the lack of a good bass guitarist in the praise band.
I think the root problem is trust.
The following is a reflection on Mark 5:21-43, the Gospel lesson appointed for Proper 8B, according to the Revised Common Lectionary.
Last year I wrote a book, going to hell, getting saved, and what Jesus actually says, and this post is an excerpt from pages 164-169.
The storehouse at Fountain’s Abbey. Photo by Rick Morley.
In Mark 5:22-43, there are two different stories of healing woven together into a single story. While Jesus is on his way to heal and restore life to Jairus’ daughter, he heals a woman who has been bleeding for twelve years. Really, it’s one of those a-funny-thing-happened-on-the-way-to-bringing-a-woman-back-to-life stories.
The following is a litany composed to give thanks, and pray for The United States. It would be appropriate on Independence Day, the Sunday nearest Independence Day—or for any service of worship taking place near a national holiday. Users may amend as they see fit.
Officiant As we remember the birth of our nation, and the gifts of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, let us offer our thanks and prayers to God, the giver of all good gifts.
Intercessor For the women and men who braved the long journey by sea to come to this new world,
We thank you Lord.
For the tribes and nations who inhabited this land for generation upon generation,
We thank you Lord.
For patriots who dreamed of, and fought for, a free nation,
We thank you Lord.
For the men and women who laid the foundation of our democracy, and who pledged liberty and justice for all,
We thank you Lord.
For those who built this country brick by brick, road by road, and town by town,
We thank you Lord.
For the brave soldiers who have fought for our country, for all who paid for our freedom by their service, and those who paid by their sacrifice,
We thank you Lord.
For the innovators and artists, poets and teachers, farmers and factory workers; for all who labor and provide for the common good,
We thank you Lord.
For this land, with its peaks and valleys, coasts and deserts, fields and meadows,
We thank you Lord.
For our own community, for those who came before us in this place, and for our neighbors near and far,
We thank you Lord.
Lord, we pray for The United States, that we might always be a nation which defends and promotes liberty and freedom, truth and justice.
We pray to you Lord.
That we might always be a nation where all are free to worship and pray,
We pray to you Lord.
That we might be a beacon of freedom to all those who live under the shadow of terror and hopelessness,
We pray to you Lord.
That those who are elected to govern and lead, would be guided by you, and be ever aware of the trust that has been given them,
We pray to you Lord.
That we would be a people who repent from our sins, and who always return to you and to your grace,
We pray to you Lord.
Intercessor Gracious God, Father of all nations, bless and defend us and our land; prosper the work of our hands, and increase in us your grace and compassion, and our offerings of thanks to you, our rock and our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The following is a reflection on Mark 4:35-41, the Gospel Lesson for Proper 7B, according to the Revised Common Lectionary.
A storm blowing out to sea in Curacao. Photo by Rick Morley.
Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?
Have you ever felt like this? Have you ever felt like you were sinking in a raging sea, and no matter how hard you prayed, and how intently you looked for Jesus, Jesus just didn’t seem to be listening?
Did you ever feel like you would hit the bottom of the sea before Jesus ever got around to doing anything about it?
Have you ever asked out loud: Why? Why me? What did I do to deserve this? O God, do you even care? Read More
The following is a reflection on Mark 4:26-34, the Gospel lesson properly appointed for Proper 6B, according to the Revised Common Lectionary.
A view from The High Line in NYC. Photo by Rick Morley.
If you had to describe the sight of the ocean, to someone who’d never seen it before, where would you even start?