Second Sunday after Pentecost

Readings – Exodus 1: 8-2:10; Psalm 124; Romans 12: 1-8; Matthew 16: 13-20 Let’s focus on St. Peter today.  Just a couple of Sundays ago we read about his water-walking.  He stepped out of the fishing boat of disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee.  He walked alone toward Jesus who was also water-walking.  At first,…

Readings – Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17 In 1774 Benjamin Franklin wrote in Poor Richard’s Almanac the following — Tart words make no friends.                                                                                                   A spoonful of honey will catch more flies                                                                                   than a gallon of vinegar. We don’t need to take his word for it.  Vinegar, negativity, dehumanizing others,…

Readings—Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 8; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 2:15-21 Holy Name Day is the celebration of the circumcision of the child of Mary and Joseph, marking and welcoming him into the People of God of ancient times.  Eight days after birth he is named by his father, “Jesus”, “God saves”.  In our times it is through…

Readings – Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6,8-10, Psalm 19; I Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21 In 586 B.C.E. the Assyrian army destroyed Jerusalem.  The city walls torn down. The temple of Solomon torn down.  All its beauty and treasure carried to Assyria.  And the professionals, the artists, the crafts people, the merchants, the educated, walked in chains to Assyria.  Only…

Readings – Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11 A few weeks ago I was leaving Weis Market without a cart and was carrying multiple bags of groceries in each hand when an old friend came toward me.  He wanted to chat, and we did for a short time.  It was difficult to…