The other day I was taking with a Lutheran pastor who is now a hospital Chaplain. He told me, “One thing I've learned as a hospital chaplain is how to be with people in a way that they really feel listened to. And if I’d done that when I was in the parish, I would...

Today is the feast of Christ the Kiing. In John 18 we hear Pilate’s conversation with Jesus. “They say you are a king. Is that true? Jesus responds, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom were of this world my followers would be fighting to save me.”...

My nephew is a sophomore in high school. He plays football. He admits he’s not the most athletic guy on the team. But he’s okay with that. He just likes being on the team and working hard at it. This season he took quite a beating on the scout team playing against the...

The widow of Zaraphath and her son were starving.  There was a famine in the land, announced by Elijah because of the idolatry of wicked King Ahab.  For six months it hadn’t rained a drop.  Elijah also was hungry and thirsty when he arrived at her town and saw her...

All four of the Gospels report that Jesus restored sight to the blind.  It appears that Jesus did so on multiple occasions.  Only Mark’s Gospel gives the name of one of these blind men:  Bartimaeus, a name which means “honorable son.”  Mark goes out of his way to...

Two of the disciples come to Jesus. They’ve got a request. “Jesus, when you make it big and we know you will we’d really appreciate if you could name us as vice presidents of your organization?” For whatever reason they thought they were entitled to that. And when the...

I heard this story a while back and it really got my thinking. It was at the peak of the rioting and looting that erupted in the wake of the killing of George Floyd a black man at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. They had blockaded the 35 W bridge for...

A little bit about the Gospel story for today. As they would often do the Pharisees approach Jesus with a question. The question is a set up. They’re using it as bate to trap Jesus. To gain the upper hand. To take control. So, they ask Jesus. “Is it lawful for a...

When I was first ordained, I thought it would be a good idea if I took a time management course. Those of you who know me well might say, “Good luck n that.” Yep, I’m the guy who still tries to squeeze ten pounds of work into a five-pound bag and it doesn’t always...

Today’s first reading from Isaiah got my attention.  You may remember it from Palm Sunday: it is a prophecy of the Passion of Christ.  But the thing that especially caught my attention is that today, the reading starts mid-verse.  The verse actually begins, “The Lord...