Perhaps the title of this sermon seems inappropriate to you—inappropriate for two reasons. First, these two words—joy and repentance—don’t seem to go together, do they? I mean, when we think of joy, the word “repentance” simply doesn’t come to mind. Secondly, we usually don’t associate repentance with Advent. Today, Advent,… Continue reading
These words from Genesis are very familiar to us. They have been read from outer space by astronauts as they circled the earth. Perhaps these words are too familiar. When anything is too familiar, we have a tendency to take it for granted. It ceases to amaze us. Scholars tell… Continue reading
In the spring of 1206 C E, early in St. Francis’ career as God’s troubadour, the saint entered the little chapel of San Damiano. This shrine, located three-quarters of a mile below Assisi, was in ruins. However, there was still suspended over the altar a simple crucifix. St. Francis knelt… Continue reading
I would like to approach joy beginning with some of the words people confuse with joy and see how joy is different from these spiritual counterfeits. Perhaps backing into joy this way will allow us to gain a fresh understanding and useful appreciation of what Pierre Teilhard de Chardin called “the most unmistakable sign of the presence of God.” Continue reading
When we say God is “eternal,” we mean that God is eternally young. (Meister Eckhart) The traditional image of God as an old man encrusted in tradition and sitting on a throne encased with the cobwebs of eternity just doesn’t seem appropriate at Christmas when we celebrate the coming of… Continue reading
There is a Chinese legend about a wise farmer who had a son, a horse, and a neighbor. One morning the son rode off to the city, but the horse threw him and wandered off. So the son came back home without the horse. “What a misfortune!” said the neighbor…. Continue reading
