Making Sense of Life

Transfiguration Sunday (February 11, 2024)

After the super bowl tonight, reporters will ask the players “How does it feel to win the Super Bowl?”  Chances are, none of them will say anything remotely coherent.  The event is too overwhelming for them.

Today, we remember the Transfiguration of our Lord (Mark 9:2-10), certainly an overwhelming event for the disciples.  They don’t know what to say; they are in awe of the goodness but also terrified of its implications.

In life, how to we make sense of these events in life that we know are good, but also cause us to tremble, because we don’t quite know what they mean for our life?

The picture is from the best Super Bowl ever, in which the Philadelphia Eagles won.

Saying "No" to Say "Yes"

Sunday, February 4 (Epiphany 5)

Often in life we must say “no” to something in order to say “yes” to something else.

In today’s Gospel (Mark 1:29-39), Jesus says “no” to stay in the town where he was.  He says “no” to the expectations of the disciples and he says “no” to healing people there.  He does this so he can say “yes” to God’s purpose in his life.

Pastor Rob challenges you to consider what Jesus is calling you to say “no” to in your life; and what Jesus is calling you to say “yes” to in your life.

It turns out, this wrestling with “no” and “yes” is not an easy thing and must be in prayer.  And in prayer we are promised to meet the one has who already said “no” to sin and death in our lives as well as said “yes” to God’s resurrection and love in our lives.

Needed: A Champion!

When in your life have you encountered something that you considered not just bad or wrong, but evil?

In the Gospel of Mark, we hear a story of Jesus encountering evil (Mark 1:21-28).  While Mark tells the story so briefly that one might be tempted to overlook it, further reflection forces one to recognize the connection between how evil works in the passage and how evil works in our world.  This unsettling reality leads us to hunger for champion, one who is mighty enough to contend against the forces in this world and in our lives.

This story is an epiphany story, a story that reveals who that champion is and what it means to live under his cross.

The photo is from the US Holocaust Museum and was used to transport people to concentration camps.

Resilience and Repentance

 

January 21, 2021 (3rd Sunday after Epiphany)

“After John (the Baptist) was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee began to proclaim the Good News…” (Mark 1:14)

The arrest of John meant Jesus could no longer continue with business as usual.  In our lives, we often encounter situations in which we cannot go back to life as it was.   What have been those situations in your life?  And how did your respond?  Frankly, we all likely have responded well to some adversity; and not so well to other challenges.  Why is this?  What makes people or at least people in certain situations more resilient?  What could make you or me more resilient?

A reflection on Jesus calling his disciples and teaching them resilience.

The image comes from “The Ursuline Sisters” webpage.

Baptism of Jesus & Broken New Year’s Resolutions

 Baptism of Jesus (January 7, 2024)

Have you kept your resolutions?  

Pastor Rob offers a word of encouragement and challenge to refine and revitalize your resolutions in light of Jesus’ Baptism.

(Didn’t make resolutions — not a problem — this sermon is what Jesus baptism and our baptisms mean for the direction and purpose of our lives).

The Magi and Three Questions

 

Christmas II (Dec 31, 2023)

You beat the level Mario — but as it turns out, they moved the real princess to another castle!

It is a metaphor for life, where the goal posts of achievement always seem to be moving.  Questions, based on the story of the Magi and their gifts, which are an invitation to move out of doing life as it is a video game.

• If you get where you are going, will you have found what you are looking for?
• Are your friends…friends for the party or friends for the feast?
• What will you need to leave behind to move ahead?

Note:  Jan 6 is traditionally the date reserved for Matthew 2:1-11, the Magi arriving in Bethlehem to worship Jesus.  However, this year January 6 is on a Saturday and Sunday, January 7 is the Baptism of Jesus; therefore, we moved up reflection on the Magi and their journey.

Christmas Eve: A melody of joy; a harmony of grief

 

Christmas Eve 2023

Christmas songs stir many memories; some bring us comfort and warmth, but others bring us grief.  The whole Christmas season is filled with many memories and layers of emotion.

Pastor Rob unpacks how the Christmas story, as told by Luke (2:1-20), has a layer of lament, a song of grief.  In this story, we can also find our own song of grief.

Yet Luke also has a layer of rejoicing, a song of joy, as the angel proclaims the birth of Jesus.  In this story, we can also find our own song of joy in Jesus.

The song of joy, first sung by the angels, does not drown out the song of lament, but finds a way to make the song of lament a harmony that is woven together with the song of joy in glorious praise of the creator.