“Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Those words from C. S. Lewis highlight an important aspect of prayer life for most of us (I know, at least in my past, it's been the case for me): We … Continue reading Let our prayers be the megaphone of God
Anglican
Let Christ do the doing
Anamnesis -- A walk into the Real Presence of Christ The most rewarding part of my week usually is when I take the Eucharist to nursing home residents. A chance to pray together, to worship, reflect on Scripture and administer the Sacrament of Unction (anointing with oil) -- this service as a Lay Eucharistic Visitor … Continue reading Let Christ do the doing
The Journey Within
A reflection on Anglican writer and mystic Evelyn Underhill This post was delivered as a sermon, June 19, 2019, at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Enid, Oklahoma. In our Gospel reading today, Christ invites us to a new journey, to go beyond our holy mountains, our temples and the trappings of this world, and to rest … Continue reading The Journey Within
Going beyond Scripture
Scripture is an invaluable and irreplaceable resource for any traveler on The Way of Christ. We must immerse ourselves in the Word, and in it find God's instruction and His nourishment for our souls along life's path. But, is there more we must do to understand and truly digest God's teaching beyond mastering the written … Continue reading Going beyond Scripture
‘Won’t back down’
A reflection on Bernard Mizeki, catechist of the faith and martyr "Well I won’t back down; No I won’t back down; You can stand me up at the gates of Hell; But I won’t back down." I've always loved those lyrics from Tom Petty's 1989 song "I Won't Back Down." They speak of courage, steadfastness — … Continue reading ‘Won’t back down’
Praying with Mary and Elizabeth
Today is the Feast of the Visitation, recounting the episode in Luke’s Gospel in which Mary, who’s just been told by the angel Gabriel she will give birth to Jesus, goes to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. In Luke 1, starting at the 39th verse, we’re told: “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in … Continue reading Praying with Mary and Elizabeth
Secularization. The death of a thin place.
Much is made these days of the secularization of society -- the loss of influence of Christianity, and religion in general, in society at large. I've generally considered this a topic for the coasts and Europe. Here in the buckle of America's Bible Belt, where a town of 50,000 gladly supports more than 100 churches, … Continue reading Secularization. The death of a thin place.
Learning to surrender, with the strength of Mary
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” I love these sparse and courageous words from Mary, in response to the Annunciation by the angel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin that she will bear the Messiah. Mary's willingness to surrender, on the spot, to God, to give herself over … Continue reading Learning to surrender, with the strength of Mary
Sweatin’ in the desert of temptation
As we continue our internal journey in Lent -- our journey of penitence, of turning toward God -- it is essential we wrestle with the question of sin, of the devil's persistence in pursuing us and how we're taught to overcome temptation. I write this as a sinner, constantly tempted and often failing in the … Continue reading Sweatin’ in the desert of temptation
The yoke that still hangs heavy
This lay sermon was delivered for Noonday Prayers at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Enid, Oklahoma, Wednesday, March 13, 2019, the feast day of The Right Reverend James Theodore Holly. Today we remember Bishop and Missionary James Theodore Holly. The first black bishop in The Episcopal Church, Anglican missionary to Haiti and first bishop of the … Continue reading The yoke that still hangs heavy
James R. Neal 