Category Archive

22nd Sun in Ordinary Time • Deut 4:1–2, 6–9 • James 1:17–27 • Mk 7:1–8, 14–15, 21–23 • 9/1/24 My physical therapist says to do my exercises with a mirror. Though I resist, I know she’s right; without a visual check, I don’t always know when I’m practicing a habit that will cause pain down the road. In the words of Moshe Feldenkrais, “As we become aware of what we are doing in fact, and not what we say or think we are doing, the way to improvement is wide open to us.” I know this to be true; I …

Homily: 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time August 25, 2024 In understanding today’s gospel it seems to me that the word of the day is “scandal.” Jesus is teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum and makes an incredible claim: “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me…whoever eats me will live because of me…the one who eats this bread will live forever.” These words cause unrest among the people who have been following Jesus through the countryside.  They begin to grumble among themselves.  Becoming aware of this, Jesus asks:  “Does this offend you?” Here I would suggest …

Pentecost 13, Ordinary 20B, Holy Wisdom Monastery August 18, 2024, Terry Larson John 6:51-58           Pam Shelburg was originally scheduled to be here today. But she’s concluding a fine vacation with her partner this weekend so she asked for someone to take her place….that’s me…I’m the substitute preacher. So I’ll use my opening line to students in my classes when I was a substitute teacher:  ‘Please behave.’ I spoke to Pam last week. She said if she were here she’s open her homily with a quote from Yogi Berra: ‘It’s deja vu all over again.’ Why would she use that …

God of Wilderness, Feed Us 1 Kings 19:4-8  Ephesians 4:25-5:2  Gospel: John 6:35, 41-51 Our Christian tradition is rich in stories of wandering in wilderness. The wilderness, as Old Testament and Hebrew scholar David Garber, Jr. writes, is a “liminal space during desperate times where God is encountered.” Now, when I read these stories of wilderness, I can’t personally help but think back to my own very few experiences of being in the wilderness. For those of you who know the ancient ruins of Petra, a Nabatean city carved into the rocks of the modern day Kingdom of Jordan, I …

18th Sun in Ordinary Time • Exodus 16:2–4, 9–15 • Eph 4:1–16 • John 6:24–35 • 8/4/24 Last week Jim spoke about bread for the journey. One of the risks of a journey is that it separates us from whatever sources of sustenance we had in the place we left behind. The Israelites in the wilderness, recalling the abundant meat and bread available in Egypt, were acutely aware of this. As I began the journey of writing this homily, not knowing where it would take me and fearful of getting stranded, I found myself snacking addictively on pita chips to …

Many of you know how much I like to offer context for the scripture proclaimed on Sundays. Bear with me as I offer one minute of context today. The Liturgy of the Word nourishes us with passages from each of the Gospel accounts on a 3-year rotation. Year A is set aside for us to feast on Matthew’s account. Year B is set aside for Mark’s account (which is where we are this year). Year C is set aside for Luke’s account. But what about John’s account? We do hear a lot from John’s Gospel during Lent and the Easter …

Sunday July 21, 2024                                                                         Holy Wisdom Monastery Jeremiah 23:1-6; Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 6:30-34,53-56                Patti La Cross As I just tended to the sheep in a reflection 3 months ago, I am giving them rest today, in this fullness of summer.  These verses from Mark may be easier to relate to because it’s summer; when many people are moving around more.  Humans seem always to have traveled, if not to secure food and water, then to explore what lies beyond. We may travel to renew relationships with family and friends;  to find respite in creation’s wonders, or be thrilled by new …

July 14, 2024 Homily Holy Wisdom Monastery Rev. Winton Boyd Even before yesterday’s assassination attempt, today’s gospel text from the lectionary can be disturbing because of its violence.  We pray that the love of God in Christ will shine through the violence.  The text picks up after stories of Jesus sending disciples out in pairs to minister throughout the villages of Galilee.  It’s a delight to acknowledge that Nancy Enderle, director of the Clergy Renewal Center here at Holy Wisdom, celebrates the 39th anniversary of her ordination today.  And that we have these 18 sweet clergy souls who are coming …

The Sixth Sunday After Pentecost, Terry Larson June 30, 2024, Holy Wisdom Sunday Assembly Mark 5: 21-43     In Mark’s Gospel, we have a story about two daughters. One was the daughter of a leader of the synagogue. His standing was indicated by the fact he was named by Mark. His name was Jairus. His daughter was deathly ill. He came to Jesus because he’d probably heard of the amazing healing Jesus had done on the Gentile-side of the Sea of Galilee. When Jesus crossed over the lake to the Jewish-side Jairus boldly sought him out on behalf of his …