The Christ Who Sees

Under the Word,
Video Devotion

John 1:47-41(running time 10:11. a little long this time. sorry)

FOLLOWING JESUS INTO KINGDOM WAYS, MATTHEW 21:33-43

Homily for October 2, 2011, 

Year A. Matthew 21:33-43. 

(See Text below)

This morning we continue with the message we began last week. It is a message that is part of what has been a consistent theme throughout this liturgical year, as we have been working through St. Matthew's Gospel: 

Jesus is seeking those who would 

follow him toward the Kingdom, 

the present and coming Kingdom of GOD, 

and this following is shown 

in the fruit of how they live. 

HOUNDED BY GOD? One can only hope...

Graham Greene (source unknown)

Marie-Francoise Allain, in her book of interviews with Graham Greene entitled, The Other Man, asked the famous author if he still felt "hounded by God."


Greene said: "I hope so. I hope so. I'm not very conscious of His presence, but I hope that He is still dogging my footsteps."


Besides saying much about the author -- whose weariness with the human condition and whose struggle with faith seems to ooze from every page of his prose -- I think his thoughts may give us a clue to much of the current American sensibilities toward the Almighty as well.

GOD's Will For Your Life

Under the Word,
Video Devotion

Romans 8:28-30
(running time 6:42)

Lectionary Notebook. Doing GOD's Will. MATTHEW 21:28-32

Homily for September 25, 2011, Year A. Matthew 21:28-32. 

(See Text below)

The Lectionary Gospel reading for this morning gives us another account of Jesus challenging the religious leaders of his day.

This confrontation was necessary because something new was happening in the nation and these leaders continued to push against it. Jesus was making claims, offering new ways to see ancient truths, but these leaders continued to see with old eyes and sedentary minds.

What they could not see was that this was the moment for which the nation had been waiting. What they could not see is that they were rejecting the culmination of all that GOD had been doing in the world, and that he was doing it through this man Jesus. They, who knew all the facts, were unable to put them in a new order because the picture toward which these facts were pushing them did not fit their world view.

Or, as Jesus said it elsewhere, they did not have eyes to see, ears to hear or hearts to understand. 

We should be careful here not to disparage these leaders too much, for often we are in the same mindset.

For Dad

July 2, 1934 -- September 8, 2011

(a video I did in 2008 for a friend of mine, this seems appropriate for how I feel today)

A Life That Pleases GOD

Under the Word,
Video Devotion

Colossians 1:9-14
(running time 7:37)

(who is this wild-eyed guy?)