Tag Archives: suffering

Pentecost 21B: Disarm with Subservience

Posted on October 13, 2021 by John

The readings for the 21st Sunday after Pentecost are: Old Testament       Isaiah 53:4–12 Psalm                    Psalm 91:9–16 New Testament      Hebrews 5:1–10 Gospel                   Mark 10:35–45 Years ago I heard a young woman describe a tense encounter she had … Continue reading →

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Trinity B: The Stormy Glory of Embracing Diversity

Posted on May 25, 2021 by John

The readings for this Sunday are: Old Testament      Isaiah 6:1–8 Psalm                    Psalm 29 New Testament     Romans 8:12–17 Gospel                   John 3:1–17 We have heard about George Floyd’s death for a year now, and about the explosion of … Continue reading →

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Palm/Passion Sunday B: Meaning Shines Out From Steadfastness

Posted on March 24, 2021 by John

The readings for the Liturgy of the Passion: Old Testament      Isaiah 50:4–9a Psalm                    Psalm 31:9–16 New Testament     Philippians 2:5–11 Gospel                   Mark 14:1–15:47 or Mark 15:1–39 (40–47) Friedrich Nietzsche was a harsh critic of religious belief; but … Continue reading →

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Easter 6A: What if God did send the virus?

Posted on May 12, 2020 by John

The Psalm for Easter 6 A is Psalm 66. It includes this: 10For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. 11You brought us into the net; you laid burdens on our backs; 12you … Continue reading →

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Pentecost 6: Jesus’ Victorious Poverty

Posted on June 30, 2018 by John

These three lessons take us in different directions as we pray they may converge.   Because I am a wimp who has certainly been spared the suffering of life that deserves that name, I have experienced the pain of rehab … 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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Post-Sheep-Handling Thoughts on Olympian Spirit

Posted on August 10, 2012 by John

The great 19th century Danish-Lutheran philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard, wrote scathingly of a certain bishop who was called a “faithful witness of the truth” at his funeral. Kierkegaard thought that faithful witnesses, or, what he would also call “knights of faith,” … Continue reading →

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He Touched the Pain: God and Suffering

Posted on October 12, 2010 by John

Iris DeMent’s song, “He Reached Down,” expresses the way God relates to our suffering and the way we relate to God in faith. Continue reading →

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