Tag: Nature of the Divine
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Second Sunday After Epiphany, Year B 2023: Psalm Passage – Being seen by the Divine: Preacher & Seeker talk about it
Seeker: “O LORD, you have searched me and known me.” Preacher: “You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.” The psalmist, Nathanael, and you & I Seeker – we have this in common. As do many other believers, I am sure. It is is comforting…
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Second Sunday After Epiphany, Year B 2023: Gospel Passage – Being called to see, and be seen
“The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph…
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Season of Advent, Year B, 2023 – Psalm Passage, Fourth Sunday: The Divine finding “favor” in us
Preacher: “I will sing of your steadfast love, O LORD, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.” I have been thinking about King David lately – again. Thinking about his confidence in his God. Not his faith, but his confidence that his God would work out his life in pleasant…
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Season of Advent, Year B, 2023 – Epistle Passage, Fourth Sunday: Toasting the Divine
“Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the…
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Season of Advent, Year B, 2023 – Gospel Passage, First Sunday: Looking toward Advent & Christmas , & seeing Who is coming
“But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory.” (Mark 13:24…
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Sundays After Pentecost, Year A, 2023 – Old Testament Passage: Dire Prophets having dire warnings
“Alas for you who desire the day of the LORD! Why do you want the day of the LORD?” (Amos 5:18a) When we in our modern society (and comfort) think about the Day of the Lord (meaning I am assuming, without consulting the biblical commentators, the Day of Judgment), we think about being taken up…
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Sundays After Pentecost, Year A, 2023 – Gospel Passage: The pundits as religious teachers
“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.” (Matthew 23:1 – 3) “How can that be?”, I have to ask.…
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Sundays After Pentecost, Year A, 2023 – Old Testament Passage: The difference between us and the Divine
“The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.” (Leviticus 19:1 – 2) Not a great deal of logic there. Except, if you truly believe we have a spark of the Divine…
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Sundays After Pentecost, Year A, 2023 – Old Testament Passage: Divine Friendships
“Moses said to the LORD, “See, you have said to me, ‘Bring up this people’; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ Now if I have found favor in your sight,…
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Sundays After Pentecost, Year A, 2023 – Old Testament Passage: Re-examining Old Testament Assumptions
“O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you, I will praise your name; for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.” (Isaiah 25:1) I have learned when an Old Testament prophet starts praising the Lord, it is wise to see what aspect of the Divine he is praising.…