Category Archives: Spirituality

Epiphany 3 C: The World’s Wordless Whispers

Posted on January 18, 2022 by John

The readings for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany are: Old Testament      Nehemiah 8:1–3, 5–6, 8–10 Psalm                    Psalm 19 New Testament     1 Corinthians 12:12–31a Gospel                   Luke 4:14–21 The whole idea of the Epiphany season of the … Continue reading →

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Pentecost 3B: Growth Beyond Our Understanding

Posted on June 10, 2021 by John

The Readings for the Third Sunday of Pentecost are: Old Testament      Ezekiel 17:22–24 Psalm                    Psalm 92:1–4, 12–15 New Testament     2 Corinthians 5:6–10 (11–13) 14–17 Gospel                   Mark 4:26–34 Many years ago I was feeling very sorry for … Continue reading →

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Epiphany 2 B: “I and We” and the Assault on the Capitol

Posted on January 14, 2021 by John

The Second Reading for this Sunday is 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 Those who stormed our nation’s Capitol on Epiphany, January 6, shouted many slogans: “This is our house!” “Stop the steal!” “Hang Mike Pence!” But they all can be boiled down … Continue reading →

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Psalm 16: “The Lord is Everything to Me”

Posted on April 18, 2020 by John

Psalm 16 is the prayer that Christians have said in the wake of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is also a perfect prayer for pandemic times.   This prayer is a meditation taking us deeper and deeper into the … Continue reading →

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Nicodemus and Us

Posted on March 17, 2020 by John

This is my second “blog in a time of pandemic.” And it fits also in my ongoing series of reflections on the Sunday readings. (I rely greatly in these comments on the scholarship of the late Raymond E. Brown, and I love his idea … Continue reading →

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Try Being Less Spiritual and More Decent

Posted on January 1, 2019 by John

“What then should we do?” That was the cry of the crowds who were touched by John the Baptist’s message in the region of the Jordan, that God’s ax was laid at the root of the trees, and those that … Continue reading →

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Springtime Sprouts

Posted on April 30, 2018 by John

Life has been happening fast at and around Heatherhope these days. Back in the hay field the alfalfa and grass that Chauncey II and III (or is it III and IV?) planted a couple of weeks ago are just minutely … Continue reading →

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Wounded Wise

Posted on September 22, 2017 by John

This week’s “Dear Abby” column in our local paper started out with a letter from a 25-year-old woman lamenting the absence of a healthy role model in her life. Her father had abandoned the family years earlier, and her mother couldn’t … Continue reading →

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Fences With Gates

Posted on May 6, 2017 by John

The center of our philosophy and our theology here at Heatherhope is our belief that God gathers and Satan scatters. If you have an allergy to God- and Satan-talk, then at least consider this basic notion that we all share … Continue reading →

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Say “No” To Fear

Posted on February 28, 2017 by John

Remember those, “No Fear,” decals that young, tough men used to put on their pick-ups? Let’s bring them back and retool them to read, “No to fear.” Talking with friends lately it is obvious that there is a great sadness … Continue reading →

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