Pontius Pilate: You should have listened to your wife

The story of Jesus’ life and death could have turned out differently, had Pontius Pilate listened to his wife. Kind and intuitive (and unnamed), she is known for these few words: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man [Jesus], for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.” Matthew 27:19 Allow me to paint the story....

Read MoreRead More

The Witch of Endor: Clairvoyant and Compassionate

Read the Witch of Endor’s story: 1 Samuel 28 Profile in history: Low Classic moment Bringing back Samuel’s spirit for King Saul. She also tells Saul he will die the next day. Who was the Witch of Endor? A woman from Endor who could summon the spirits of the dead An independent contractor (paid by the session) A woman living alone An outcast What did the Witch of Endor...

Read MoreRead More

Crossing Boundaries: Awkward all Around

Ethnic boundaries: apparently even Jesus had trouble with them. Case in point: Sunday’s Gospel reading from Matthew 15:21-28. A woman from "the outside," known as the Canaanite woman, spars with Jesus and convinces him to heal her daughter. And Jesus is oddly cranky about the whole thing, at least in the beginning. (Note: The Canaanite woman to which Matthew refers is...

Read MoreRead More

Mary: I Walk With My Son

Jesus’ mother, Mary, is venerated by millions around the world, and will be particularly remembered next Tuesday, August 15th, on her feast day. Honestly, it took me years to relate to her, for she always seemed so untouchable, too far up on a silver platform for me to reach. Of course I knew her story; who doesn’t? But she remained emotionally...

Read MoreRead More

Cold Clear Water

A sermon preached at Holy Trinity, Elk River, Minnesota on July 2, 2017 Two images from today’s readings stand out like stoplights, blinking in the night. The first, from today’s Gospel, is simple and short. Jesus says: “Whoever gives a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly, none of these will lose...

Read MoreRead More

“Why, this is so WARM!”

My mother-in-law, Gertrude, was one of the nicest people I’ve known. When she stayed with us, she swept the patio every day. She wiped down the counters and sink every night after dinner. She said she couldn’t do a lot, but she could do those things. One day she held our newborn son as he slept in her arms for...

Read MoreRead More

Women of Holy Week: Mary Magdalene

Over sixteen years ago, I had cancer (and have been blessedly cancer-free since then). Walking within sight of the valley of death is a pretty scary place. But I believe in angels. So I looked for an angel during each chemo treatment, each medical procedure, each visit to the hospital. I expected to find one, and most of the time I did. Twice I was...

Read MoreRead More