Marking the Moment

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month shall mark the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. – Exodus 12:1-2 (NRSV) The shadows of Lent have almost reached their longest hour. The tension of Holy Week is...

Conspiring

Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain? … [The One] who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord has them in derision. – Psalm 2:1, 4 (NRSV)  The psalmist’s “why” isn’t a hard question to answer. Why do the nations conspire? For wealth, for power,...

Love and Wonder

Understand, O dullest of people; fools, when will you be wise? The one who planted the ear also hears. The one who formed the eye also sees. The one who teaches knowledge to humankind also chastises. That same one knows our thoughts, which are but an empty breath....

Plumb Line

I’ve been trying to climb your plumb line, O God, as if it is a measure of success or a ladder to security. When the wall showed signs of toppling, I leapt to the line to rise above it all. Forgive me. When the locusts swarmed and the harvest was threatened...

Praying as Jesus Taught

Thirty sparrows clamor around the bird feeder while a squirrel plots its route to the same, and I wonder if this is faithfulness: to know what is needed and to crave it solely. Give us this day our daily bread, for you will give what is good, O God. Now let us be...

Of Gods and Kings

King Manasseh did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh. He built altars for all the host of heaven and served them. He made his son pass through fire. He practiced soothsaying and dealt with wizards. He set a carved image of Asherah in the house of Yahweh, provoking...

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