Gentle Jesus Meek and Mad

He went there.

March 17, 2013 By 6 Comments

by Unvirtuous Abbey

Gospel Reading:  Luke 19:28-40

For Sunday, March 24, 2013—Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is a liturgical dream: children and animals are parading up the aisle; the music is uplifting; and there are props—the congregation worshipfully waving their palm fronds.

At least, that’s the goal. Usually, the kids scurry unceremoniously up the aisle, and just ask any clergy person who has used a donkey in church if they would recommend it.

Parades and Protest

The same is true for this reading from Luke: it “sounds” nice, but really, it isn’t. In fact, (though he writes of Mark) Ched Myers calls this “triumphal entry” by Jesus from the margins into the heart of the empire a “misnomer.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, Luke, New Testament, YearC Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Said the Joker to the Thief…

Becoming the Christ

March 17, 2013 By 3 Comments

by Unvirtuous Abbey

Gospel Reading:  Luke 22:14—23:56

For Sunday, March 24, 2013—Sunday of the Passion

A particular funeral stands out for me for a few reasons. It was for a local drug dealer and thief, who had multiple girlfriends, a son, and quite a few enemies. There was a police presence at the wake. The funeral home had to do a “partial embalming” because of the health risks to the embalmers. He was buried in his sunglasses and favourite football jersey.

As I stood there, after the final prayers and before they closed the casket, I thought to myself, “So this is who was on the other cross.” One thief asked Jesus to remember him, the other one didn’t. This was the other one, the one who mocked Jesus and asked him to save himself, and them. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, Luke, New Testament, Uncategorized, YearC Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Making Friends with Strange Cats

How do you know?

November 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

by Unvirtuous Abbey

Old Testament Reading:  2 Samuel 23:1-7

For Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012—Christ the King Sunday

During a senate debate, Richard Mourdock said, “I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen.” For a moment, it crystallized the division among people about just what is wrong with mixing politics and religion. Despite attempts to explain himself, he couldn’t put the cat back in the bag.

In response to that statement the monks of Unvirtuous Abbey prayed, “For those who claim to know “what God intends” when most of us can’t figure out what our cat wants, we pray.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: 2 Samuel, Featured, Old Testament, Uncategorized, YearB Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Papa’s Got a Brand New Bible

How long can you dance?

November 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

by Unvirtuous Abbey

Gospel Reading:  John 18:33–37

For Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012—Christ the King Sunday

The King James Brown version of the Bible might say, “The one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing.” And that’s what Jesus and Pilate are doing in John’s Gospel, the hardest working Gospel.

High-stakes Flaminco

The Gospel writer sets the stage apart from Matthew, Mark, and Luke with a group outside of the praetorium and Pilate shuffles back and forth trying to reconcile the antagonists. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, John, New Testament, YearB Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Look, But Don’t Touch?

April 1, 2012 By 8 Comments

What about anointing the body?

by Unvirtuous Abbey

Gospel Reading: Mark 16: 1-8

For Sunday, April 9, 2012: Year B – Easter Sunday

The most hopeful woman I know has a head full of brain tumours. Yet, naturally, she is filled with fear. It’s a dual existence for her: anticipating the wedding of her first born child in July, while not being sure that she will live long enough to see it.

Anointing the Body

Mark’s Gospel records that Mary Magdalene and Salome (meaning, “peace.” In the Secret Gospel of Mark, Salome is named as a disciple of Jesus) went to the tomb of Jesus, where his body rested, to anoint him with spices.

In today’s culture, in which we often “celebrate the life of” rather than “mourn the death of” a person, we have little or no concept of anointing a body. Or do we?

Acts of Mourning

Before her radiation treatments began, my friend shaved her head. Because the treatments, though palliative, cause minor burns to her skin, a nurse covers the affected area with cream to ease the irritation. Because she objects to narcotics, her doctor has prescribed medicinal marijuana and Extra Strength Tylenol to ease the pain in her system.

Sometimes anointing happens before we die. It’s about our care for, and respect of, the body so that the soul may still rest there for a time. Anointing is an act of mourning, but it is also an act of love in the face of the fear of death and dying.

Don’t be Afraid?

Rabbi Harold Kushner says that the most repeated phrase in the Bible are the words, “Don’t be afraid!” sometimes translated as “Fear not!” They are the words spoken to Mary by an angel about Jesus’ conception; they are the words spoken to shepherds by an angel about Jesus’ birth. And now, these words are spoken to the women at the tomb about Jesus’ death and resurrection.

That’s easy to say if you’re an angel; however, it’s not so easy to do for a human. So often we are incapacitated by our fear. So often ministry is about going where angels fear to tread. It becomes a mantra as a person walks down the hall in a hospital, or walks into a home where people are in unspeakable pain:  “Don’t be afraid.” Throughout his ministry, Jesus challenged those around him to have faith instead of fear.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, Mark, New Testament, YearB Tagged With: , , , , ,

Not So Fast

April 1, 2012 By 2 Comments

Subcultural Dialogues About Easter

by Unvirtuous Abbey

New Testament Reading: Acts 10:34-43

For Sunday, April 9, 2012: Year B – Easter Sunday

Graffiti has existed since ancient times. Though there are many valid arguments against it, at its best, graffiti is an expression of self that creates a dialogue with the world through words or images that provoke a response. It’s a dialogue used by people within a subculture in which a statement is made which waits for a response.

Respond

A year ago, the side of a downtown historic church in Halifax, Nova Scotia was spray-painted with the words, “God is dead” in large black letters. The people of the church had two options: have the side of the building cleaned or respond.

The minister chose to respond. Around the words “God is dead,” she had written: “Not so fast. Happy Easter.” Great words to see written on the walls of the house of God.

Difficult Conversations

The setting for Acts 10:34-43 is the house of Cornelius.

Peter and Cornelius, a Centurion with the occupying force in Palestine, are having a conversation in a way that was not permitted because it was against Jewish law for a Jew to visit or associate with a Gentile.  

Cornelius believed in God and he had a vision. He asked Peter to come and talk. From a faith perspective, it must have been difficult for Cornelius as a Centurion to reconcile the soldier and the soul within him.

Rise Above Religion

Gandhi referred to Jesus as “the most active resister known to history – this is non-violence par excellence.” The God Peter speaks of is the one who rises above religion and encourages relationship. Among a plurality of values, it is the awe of God that is paramount.

What’s most important, says Peter, is that our love of God is what is accepted by God, not our division through faith practices or nationality. Yet, we seem to encourage those things in church communities. All too often, our gatherings aren’t nearly as diverse as Jesus has called us to be within his ministry. Faith isn’t about “us;”  it’s about the ones Jesus tried to show us. It’s about having subcultural dialogues with people and ideas beyond our walls.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Acts, Featured, New Testament, YearB Tagged With: , , , , ,

Do You Hear What I Hear…

January 9, 2012 By 8 Comments

…or is that call just me talking to myself?

by Unvirtuous Abbey

Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 3:1–10 [11–20]

For Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012: Year B – Epiphany 2

My infant son, who is named after this story (his name is Eli Samuel), does not sleep. And when he does eventually sleep, he always jumps and throws his arms in the air as if he is falling, which makes him wake up, crying.

We go to him. We touch him and offer words that soothe him back to sleep.

Falling

The fear of falling is a very human instinct. And reaching up for someone is just as human.

Night time comes for a lot of us with many things calling our name. Many things lay claim on us. Just as back then, these days “the word of the Lord” is rare. We can all relate to a time and place when the soothing word of the Lord was no longer heard. When we’re falling, reaching, wondering who or what will catch us…not the least of which, God.

Supposed to Hear

In fact, if anyone in this story is supposed to “hear the Lord” it is old Eli, the priest whose sight has grown dim. Instead, it is to Samuel, who has no idea what it is that he is hearing, who hears. But, initially, only that something is calling his name.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: 1 Samuel, Featured, Old Testament, YearB Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Vampire Ministry

January 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Are we making disciples or sucking fresh blood?

by Unvirtuous Abbey

Gospel Reading: John 1:43–51

For Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012: Year B – Epiphany 2

There is something missing from Christianity these days as people flock to mega-experiences of church with power-personality-oriented ministries. In contrast, this call story from John is wonderful for one reason, and Joss Whedon (creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly) says it better than I can: “Recognizing power in another does not diminish your own.”

Mutual Appreciation

In this brief exchange, a bond is formed between Jesus and Nathanael; one my grandmother might jokingly call a “mutual appreciation society.” But it is mutual. Nathanael and Jesus saw something in each other. They recognize things in each other right away that allow them to form a bond of trust which enables them to move forward.

The story would have been very different had Nathanael fallen on his knees and simply said, “Rabbi, you are the son of God.” But this is not a story about a sycophant, or worse yet, a victim.

Refreshing Cynicism

Nathanael’s cynicism and analysis of the situation is shockingly honest: “Nazareth? Can anything good come from there?”

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, John, New Testament, YearB Tagged With: , , , , , ,

“How long to sing this song?”

August 22, 2011 By 3 Comments

Following, and being followed by, the cross.

by Unvirtuous Abbey

Gospel Reading: Matthew 16: 21-28

For Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011: Year A – Ordinary 22

 The last time I was “taken aside” was on a trip to Minneapolis, MN. As I stood before the airport scanner, I was told to empty my pockets, take off my shoes, take off my ring and watch, and remove my belt. Being patted down can be a humiliating experience.

But that was the point of being taken aside: being rebuked; to be reprimanded; to be disapproved of.

Shown the Way

This story is a teaching moment. Jesus is showing his disciples what being a disciple means: going to the centre of power, confronting the leaders of the day (and yes, suffering because of it), and then ultimately dying to protect others. “From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples…”

For the rest of his life on earth, Jesus shows them (and us) what is divine in this world: words, healing, stories, transforming, walking, holding, breaking bread, lifting up, and yes, confronting empire.

And he shows them what is human: oppression, mistrust, marginalization, stoning, ethnocentrism, and eventually, ultimately, crucifixion.

What’s scarier is that Jesus reveals that there is a fine line between what is divine and what is human.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, Matthew, New Testament, YearA Tagged With: , , , ,

Holy Ground

August 22, 2011 By 3 Comments

Can we really feel God?

by Unvirtuous Abbey

Old Testament Reading: Exodus 3: 1-15

For Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011: Year A – Ordinary 22

A close friend of mine is an Atheist who can quote scripture better than I can. He knows church history and he can name the church councils that created creeds and authorized scriptures, and he can speak at length about Christians in the media, whether it’s the latest prediction about the end of the world or a significant comment from a credible source.

When we have coffee together, we talk politics, music, literature, and the current state of Batman in the DC Universe. But I’ve never talked to him directly about what he actually believes and/or doesn’t believe until recently he sent me a message saying, “I don’t believe in God because I’ve never felt God.”

Feeling God

I vividly remember the most spiritual moment I have ever experienced. It had everything a moment like that should have: wilderness, a profound sense of being lost and confused, a stranger, a conversation, and between it all something crystallized in my memory that I, specifically, was not alone.

Yet, if I told that story here, it wouldn’t have the same effect on you. It would simply be a “nice” story. It would be a candidate for Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul. But for me, at the time, it gave me the strength and courage I needed to be who I was and to continue on my journey.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Exodus, Featured, Old Testament, YearA Tagged With: , , , , ,
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