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’
Bible study
Be like Barnabas, the glue of encouragement
Have you ever needed encouragement? Ever needed a second chance, even when you didn’t really deserve it? God gives us these gifts through grace, and sometimes that grace flows through his servants. St. Barnabas was such a servant. Barnabas first appears in Acts 4:36: “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which … Continue reading Be like Barnabas, the glue of encouragement
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
Surrender — a dirty word in this world, the path to glory in Christ
The deeper I go into Christian faith, the more I understand it as a series of stark contrasts between what is considered desirable by the world’s standards, versus The Way of Christ. And there is perhaps no starker contrast between these realms than how we understand the concept of surrender. Growing up, I learned … Continue reading Surrender — a dirty word in this world, the path to glory in Christ
Touch, rest in Jesus’ wounds, and doubt no more
A sermon for Evening Prayer, Sunday, April 28, 2019, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Enid, Oklahoma. A reading from the Gospel according to St. John, 20:19-31 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the … Continue reading Touch, rest in Jesus’ wounds, and doubt no more
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
Hope beyond the empty room
I was warned about this. The sudden, unexpected empty feeling in the pit of the stomach. The numb grief. The self-doubt and regret. I was warned about all of it. When we started a small nursing home ministry almost two years ago, our priest, Fr. John, warned us. And, on each new occurrence, he's been … Continue reading Hope beyond the empty room
The life of Janus: Which spirit will you choose?
Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. 1 Corinthians 2:12 In Roman mythology, Janus was the two-faced god of duality: beginnings and endings, peace and war. Where Romans guessed at this dual nature, … Continue reading The life of Janus: Which spirit will you choose?
Finding silence in the noise
This is the third of three devotionals submitted for consideration to "Forward Day by Day," a daily devotional publication of The Episcopal Church. The full month of daily devotionals will be published next January. Revelation 1:10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet. Our … Continue reading Finding silence in the noise
Love and hate in the mirror
This is the second of three devotionals submitted for consideration to "Forward Day by Day," a daily devotional publication of The Episcopal Church. The full month of daily devotionals will be published next January. Psalm 139:21 Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? The greatest enemy to … Continue reading Love and hate in the mirror
