Rooke Chapel, 10.5.2020
The 31st Sunday in COVID Time, and the 8th of the Fall Semester
John 8: 2-11
If we were to go up on the sidewalk,
and ask passers-by,
what quotes they know from Jesus,
it’s fair to think today’s would register.
“Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.”
Or something like it
If we were on family feud:
“One hundred people surveyed,
“Things Jesus said.”
We might not hit the buzzer and say it first,
it would be on the board, don’t you think?
I am the way the truth the light
Love one another as I have loved you.
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Let anyone among you.
A reasonable guess, at least.
This is one of the stories we know, I think,
about Jesus.
One of the stories we love, perhaps.
And rightly so.
It’s great.
Jesus is subversive,
disruptive,
and, I think, lovable.
I imagine him standing in the middle,
of this whirlwind,
of anger and violence,
this plot and ploy to undermine his credibility
This mingling mob of power and gender and judgment and law,
and division.
And he says,
look at this woman,
and look at yourselves,
Tag: scripture through fresh eyes
Lost and Found
Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32
Sunday, September 28, 2020
Family Appreciation Weekend, Week 7, and the 30th Sunday of COVID Time
I’m not sure two years makes a tradition,
but I’ve been preaching on the story of the Prodigal Son,
on family weekend
for many a year now,
across a couple of institutions.
so, let’s go ahead and call it one, I think.
And you can read into this as much as you like.
though I surely hope you parents don’t think of the Bucknell experience,
as “squandering a fortune on dissolute living”
As I’ve mentioned before:
I hold these students here (at chapel) in high esteem,
in no small part,
due to their making much healthier,
and sensible life and social choices,
than I did during my own college years.
in this strange moment of digital connection –
if you’re on Zoom,
and feeling like it,
you can even ask my own parents about
my prodigal days.
Or you can check in with my very own younger brother,
and ask him how well our lives and relationships map,
onto these two brothers,
about neither of whom there’s much good to say.
I’m imagining that this story is familiar to you.
It may be the best story.
On our way, rejoicing.
Rooke Chapel, Bucknell University,
Sunday 9/6/2020
Acts 8: 26-38
If you have a certain kind of bible,
it’s likely that there are headings,
listed above certain stories.
These headings (and the numbers and chapters for that matter)
are a much later addition to our text.
They are commentary.
And some of it is quite influential.
You may know the phrase,
“God forth and make disciples of all nations”
as the “Great Commission”
when in fact the phrase “great commission”
is nowhere to be found,
in scripture itself.
Only in commentary.
And it is a great commission,
but so too is “love others as I have loved you.”
and “whatever you do to the least of these, you do to me.”
Wider and Wider, Still
Mark 7: 24-30
Rooke Chapel Worship, Sunday 8.30.20
Bucknell University
I love a good, human Jesus story.
our stories of him,
are always pushing and pulling between,
the divine pole and the human pole.
Because it’s a paradox that he’s somehow both, right?
This amazing gift,
Emmanuel,
God with us.
Fully divine. Fully human.
More stories of more sorts,
as ever,
I think, help enrich our picture of him,
help us relate and connect.
But I especially like a Jesus with his feet on the ground.
I like a dusty Jesus.
And a hungry Jesus.
A Jesus who weeps once in a while over a friend.
Or gets annoyed with his disciples,
or gets mad at injustice.
A Jesus who gets tired and overwhelmed,
and needs to take a step back.
I like that emotionally honest savior.
But one thing I don’t like.
Is a mean Jesus.
A cruel Jesus.
And make no mistake,
it is cruel for Jesus to call this woman, a dog.