“In Mark’s version of the temptation story, just before Jesus is driven into the wilderness, he sees the heavens open and the Spirit descending like a dove. Mark tells us that Jesus, still…

“Seeing may be believing, but there are times when something so remarkable happens that we cannot believe even our own eyes. Years later, after Eli had died, I was living in Wilmington, Delaware, where…

“The journey must have begun after sunset. When you follow a star, you can only walk at night, when the world is not so busy, so noisy. When you travel at the rate…

“Mary’s words imply more than just hope for the future. She sings not of things as they will be, but of things as they are changing. She does not say, ‘God will bring…

“Throughout the years, Calli has taught me so much about living with frailty and an illness that is not only ‘messy,’ but which can lead to more and more serious and even fatal…

“What we hear from Jesus in Luke today, I believe, are words addressed to impetuous volunteers. In essence, Jesus says, ‘Think about what you are doing and decide whether or not you are willing…

“The nameless woman of Luke 7—labeled sinful—is a precious, bold illustration of the disturbing discoveries inherent in discipleship. Her ears are fixed on the ministry of Jesus, and she is inspired to hear…

“Like the tenants in the vineyard, both Maggie and Jared and, in all honesty, many other members of that congregation, thought that the church belonged to them. Many new people were joining and, yes, some…

“After six years of researching shame, Brown has discovered that people belong to one of two groups, those who feel worthy of love and belonging, and those who do not. Shame is the one…

“The parable I am about to tell you this morning is a compilation of seemingly disparate threads: a song by the great storyteller Harry Chapin; an experience I had with a church parishioner in…