Rev. Zach

Psalm 124:1-8     James 5:13-20     Mark 9:38-50 As some of you know, I had the unique experience of offering the opening prayer for the Stump Speech event at the Horse Farm yesterday.  I have done several of these types of public prayers over the last couple of years, and I must confess that it is always odd to me.  It’s odd because of the way in which our society has changed – such that the voice of the church has become one that blesses more than challenges.  These invitations to pray at public events – that clearly have nothing to do with the church – are odd to me, because I am clearly a minority voice in an overwhelmingly Roman Catholic culture.  The experience of public prayer is odd to me, because I keep calling for God to help us become more just to the poor, more able to confess sin for allowing conditions that contribute to poverty and suffering, and more willing to do something about it.  I keep expecting to have offended someone, and yet they keep asking me b

Psalm 19:1-14     James 3:1-12     Mark 8:27-38 Over the last few weeks we have been talking about the importance of actions, and we need to hold that in mind as part of the argument of the scriptures today. When I say argument I don’t mean that the readings are in conflict with one another. I mean that they have a point to prove, a proclamation to offer, and the intent of winning over our lives through their conviction. We have small arguments like these all the time. I say small because – while scripture is concerned with our individual experiences – scripture is ultimately concerned with a greater reality than our personal preferences. One such small argument that happened in our house last week was over mayonnaise.  Yes, I was shocked to find that my daughter – in a blind taste test – had the audacity to prefer a different mayonnaise than the one that I have raised her on. To her credit, I later found that her preferred brand is produced in Louisiana, whereas my beloved

Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23     James 2:1-17     Mark 7:24-37 As some of you may know, I have from time to time taken to studying scripture in coffee shops instead of my office.  Something about the buzz of human interaction makes the gospel come alive.  Certainly there are distractions, but none of them have the weight of property issues or administrative tasks. One such day I overheard two women talking about their past and current struggles.  They were both displaced by Katrina, and probably in their late 40’s.  One of them, who called herself Karen, noted my Bible and asked for prayer.  She was living on Social Security while getting certified as a medical transcriptionist.  I did pray with her, but I did not share the poem they inspired.  It seemed a bit much to tell a stranger that I wrote a poem about her, but I’ll share it with you now.  It was raining that day, so the title of the poem is Rain. I hear a woman's chatter, deep and low. Storms have uprooted cit

James 1:17-27     Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Athletic products have some of the best motivational slogans.  As I reflect on the last few weeks of readings in Ephesians and John, I can’t help but think about the slogans “Is it in you?” and “Just do it.”   Both of these come to mind when I think about the last several weeks of scripture readings.  For five weeks, we’ve been talking about Jesus as the Bread of Life.  We have been talking about incarnation theology – that is the idea that God is made manifest in you and me through Jesus Christ.  Those are some mighty fancy words.  I don’t mean to suggest that you or I do not understand them.  I mean to say that sometimes we like fancy words to make us feel good about our crumby world.  Of course there are many of us who understand those words but don’t quite feel up to them.  Maybe the idea of God peaking out through your eyes is a bit overwhelming.  Maybe you think that God only shows up when you do something good or nice.  Maybe

1 Kings 8:1, 6, 10-11, 22-30, 41-43     Ephesians 6:10-20     John 6:56-69 I wonder how many of you are already tired of the political posturing and public debate that has gripped our nation?  And just think, the debates have only just begun.  Yay!  Politicians and pundits are sharpening their words to play upon our fears, to villainize their opponents, and to demonstrate their ability to save us from our next big crisis.  But don’t hate the player.  Hate the game. I have hope that God is still present, even in the imperfect and impure political systems we continue to abuse, reform, and venerate. Meanwhile our criminal justice system is on trial – with the finger pointing at “bad cops” or “agitators” or “profiteers” who have made an industry out of incarceration and fee collection – and the news media is feeding the fires of social media in such a way that it is hard to tell what stories are simply the result of a particular situation and what is generalizable to the comm

1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14     Psalm 111:1-10     Ephesians 5:15-20     John 6:51-58 Let’s get real.  That’s what people say when they feel that they have some undisputed – and uncomfortable – truth to share.  I think our readings approach that phrase in a different way.  I think they speak to us today about what it means to be “real” – to find and know and understand our identity and purpose. At least, that is where we begin with Solomon.  If you read chapters 1 and 2, you’ll get a little more detail.  In fact, you might find it to be like a Spark Notes version of the Game of Thrones (sex, betrayal, vengeful bloody transfer of power)!  In fact, the last several weeks of Old Testament readings have been like that.  The Psalms have complimented them, and have been woven between lament over our sinfulness and praise for the way in which God is always faithful – even when we are not. The letter to the Ephesians has been telling us about the calling to unity in the Body of