(Part of a post first published April 22, 2011) There is a luxury in historical hindsight, an ability to see the lessons without going through the event. And it is that hindsight that named this morning Good. In real time, on the ground in Jerusalem, there was nothing good about spittle mixed with blood. There […]

(This is part two of a communion meditation. Part one appeared yesterday.) When we remember the brutal reality of the cross we have the ultimate affirmative answer to the incessant quest for affirmation. When we remember that Jesus died, we remember that someone loved us completely. We search for novelty because we don’t believe anything lasts. […]

(I’m leading communion tonight, for a group of youth. Here’s how I’m starting.) I am an addict. I am addicted to novelty. To hearing and seeing new things. The next text. The next status update. The next tweet from a friend. The next play. The next episode. I’m addicted to the next indication of approval, the […]

Jesus was not nice. He was compassionate. He was healing. He was amusing. He was ironic. But if you were a Pharisee, or a Sadducee  or a Herodian, or a scribe, he wasn’t nice. Of course, if you were a Pharisee or a Sadducee or a Herodian or a scribe, you weren’t very nice either. At […]