“Faith.” That is our theme for this morning, as it is clearly the focus of our Gospel Reading. To be frank, I actually wish Jesus had not used the metaphor of faith and the mustard seed, as it has so frequently been co-opted and misused in modern western Christianity to...

There was a rich man who had more wealth and possessions than he could ever use in 100 lifetimes. He wore the best clothes. He ate the best foods. Every day his servants would pile his table high with food, and he and his wealthy friends would gorge on the...

There is one conclusion I have come to over the years about our Gospel reading for this morning: Nobody really understands it. I would include Luke in this group as well. Indeed, Luke gives us several possible interpretations of this passage. But that doesn’t mean we should throw the passage...

I once had a thoughtful and intelligent young man ask me during a confirmation class to please explain this passage that is our Gospel reading for today about seeking the one lost sheep while leaving behind the 99 in the wilderness. For this young man, this parable made absolutely no...

Phew. We certainly have had a run of difficult Gospel readings of late. Our reading for this morning is so difficult that it is at the top of a list of passages known as “the difficult sayings of Jesus.” I can remember when I began studying Greek in seminary that...

The Rev. Karen B. Johnson A resource I have often turned to during these years of COVID is Matthew Fox’s 2020 book, Julian of Norwich: Wisdom in a Time of Pandemic – and Beyond. Julian, a 14th century English mystic who endured the intense suffering of the Black Death plague, at the age...

The Rev. Karen B. Johnson Last summer I was having a dish of pistachio ice cream down in Round Pond with a friend who has a knack for weather lore. We were sitting on a bench overlooking the harbor when clouds appeared in rows something like mackerel scales. And my...

Have you ever asked yourself why you come to church week in and week out? I once asked a group of adults this question and their answers were as varied as the people in the room. I wrote their answers down, and I still have the list: It is just...

Of the four Gospels, the Gospel of Luke has the most to say about wealth, its effects on those who possess it, and what those with more than they need for basic necessities should do with their excess. Throughout this Gospel we see Jesus bringing hope and good news to...

Very early on in my ordained life I preached a sermon on our Gospel passage for this morning that basically said, “persistence in prayer pays off.” My message was keep knocking and God will give you what you ask for. It wasn’t a very good sermon, and it was bad...