Let us prefer nothing to the love of Christ;and may he bring us all to everlasting life. In today’s Gospel we hear the remarkable story of a Canaanite woman who comes to Jesus seeking healing for her daughter. “Canaanite” signified “pagan” to the Jews of Jesus’ time. The area of Tyre and Sidon, on the…

The voice of the Lord is over the waters…[Psalm 29] Pentecost is a time of explanation, a time of gradual but astounding revelation. The readings for this season try to explain to the people of God who have been redeemed by the death and resurrection of the Lord the vastness, the depth of the gift…

It is very difficult to read the three appointed lessons for today without weeping. These must be the passages that have sustained communities in distress through the ages: these are the words that allow the great suffering peoples of Africa and the tiny Christian remnant in the Middle East to cling to hope in these…

I will open my mouth in a parable;*I will declare the mysteries of ancient times.That which we have heard and known,and what our forefathers have told us,*we will not hide from their children.We will recount to generations to come,the praiseworthy deeds and the Power of the LORD,*and the wonderful workshe has done. Today’s Gospel reading…

We frequently find ourselves caught in the midst of seemingly unresolved tensions. Such situations arise at home, at work, on the field of competition, and in our corporate national life, especially in the areas of politics and the economy. Despite the fact that all economic indicators place those of us in the United States in…

What is your treasure? Where is your treasure? It would be a good thing to take an actual survey on these questions. We would continue by asking: “Is your treasure an accumulation of money? A beautiful house? An heirloom?” “Is your treasure a loved one, a spouse, a child, a grandchild?” “What is your treasure?”…

Although you are sovereign in strength you judge with mildness and with great forbearance you govern us; for you have power to act whenever you choose. Wisdom 12:18 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now. And not only the creation but we ourselves who have the first fruits…

Today’s lessons celebrate one of the most overwhelming aspects of God’s nature — abundance. The very existence and creation of everything, us included, demonstrates God as the ultimate giver. So awesome is God’s ability to do this, that even in the midst of broken lives and broken dreams, we humans can experience this abundance. So…

There was once a time when any of us going to a service of Holy Communion in an Episcopal Church might hear some of Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel. “Come to me all who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Or, in a slightly older form of the English…

The haughtiness of people shall behumbled,And the pride of everyone shallbe brought low;And the Lord alone will beexalted on that day.— Isaiah 2:11 We know that our old self was crucifiedwith him so that the body of sin mightbe destroyed, and we might no longerbe enslaved to sin.— Romans 6:6 Those who find their life…