God. Christianity

SAINTS: At The Well Of Tears — Margery Kemp, by Colin Dickey

October 11, 2016

From Afterlives of the Saints Tears did not enter the world through the saints; but without them we would have never known that we cry because we long for a lost paradise. So wrote the Romanian philosopher E. M. Cioran, whose nihilism and atheism didn’t stop him from approaching the saints. As I searched for tears, he tells us, I thought of the saints. The two are inextricably linked: weeping and sainthood. Despite the various stories and legends, the transcendent artwork and architecture and literary masterpieces, perhaps it is only in tears that we can really hope to understand the saints. More then laughter, mourning, or sex, crying (which can encompass all of these things) is the truly excessive gesture, the limit of [...]

SPIRITUAL WARFARE: The Need For Clean

October 8, 2016

Or Orthodoxy. In the church. This is a true story. That I watched happened. Up-close and personal, as they say. It’s the story of a church that was beset. The head of this church thought what was besetting it was church warfare. But it wasn’t. Because this particular church was actually at war with itself. And it lost the battle. With itself. Let me explain. For every person who has ever walked this Earth, there is a soul. A distinct soul. A soul with its own song. Its own point-of-view. Its own way of seeing God. Or not seeing God. Now souls of a certain kind tend to flock together. It’s why there are different religions. Each are always much, much better than the others. Period. This is the only area [...]

POETRY: Healing Harvest, by Matthew and Dennis Linn

June 3, 2015

O memory of a painful time, are you seed or stone? A dark and deadly tomb, Or seed with life to bloom? Only if I say, “I want you,” Will I really know. O sprouting seed, are you angry At the dark and choking dirt? What grates your tender shoot And blocks your chosen route? Only if I say, “I forgive you,” Will I really know. O tender shoot, are you bargaining, Demanding sun before you grow? Or would you rather as the sun Pour warm love on everyone? Only if I say, “I forgive you first,” Will I really know. O roots, do you wander depressed Searching in drought for tears? Or do you need more sun To dry the tears that run? Only if I say, “Forgive me,” Will I really know. O golden wheat, can you [...]

SERMON: A Homily For The Feast Of Epiphany by John Chrysostom

April 19, 2015

When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Judea, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying: Where is that is born king of the Jews. For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to adore him. Isaias had foretold that this would come to pass, saying: The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Madian and Apha: all they from Saba shall come, bringing gold and frankincense: and showing forth praise to the Lord. (Isaiah 60:) This is He, Christ the Lord, whom the Magi, having seen the sign of the star, announce as the King of the Jews. Things unheard of, and exceeding the measure of human astonishment, all took place together at the birth of our Lord. An angel appears and speaks to Zachary, promising that [...]

LENTEN MEDITATION: Charity — The Goods by Caryn Rivadeneira

March 14, 2015

From Broke: What Financial Desperation Revealed about God’s Abundance I had gotten used – if, I suppose, you can get used to charity – to unexpected financial gifts from family members. Once my husband shared a bit of our story and the direness of our situation, we were overwhelmed by generosity and love, which took the forms of “widow’s mites” to no-interest loans. but one particular bit of charity caught me off guard. I held the stack in my hands, a pile of $100 gift cards for the local grocery store, and fought back tears. Not that long ago – at least, it didn’t seem that long ago – the man who had sent these had talked with my husband about merging businesses, aligning their two [...]

LISTENING: Take Care How You Listen by M. Basil Pennington

June 3, 2014

From Listening: God’s Word For Today As Jesus was making his way through the towns and villages preaching, he often told stories, drawing upon the everyday events around him and the creation which he loved – for he had made it. The Twelve were with him as were other disciples such as Mary Magdalene and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward, and Susanna. In the evening, after a long day of ministry they would gather for a quiet time with Jesus. One evening he said to them: “Take care how you hear, for anyone who has taken care will be given more, while from anyone who has not taken care, even what he has will be taken away.” That was the day Jesus had spoken about the sower. As he sat in the village [...]