Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Today is our annual reminder that the Divine is not the rational and reasonable object we wish them to be. God is strange, in so many ways. We can try to explain away such truth. Or we can accept it. We can embrace it. And then we will come to know someone wonderful, someone far more wonderful than any consumer-friendly version peddled by corporate religion. Yes, God is strange! Alleluia!

Proverbs 8:22-31; Psalms 8:2-9; Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-15

Pentecost Sunday

"Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth." What image did you hold in your mind as you sung these words today? Are you waiting for a miracle, of either divine or political origin, to get us there? Or are you willing to be an instrument of the Spirit right here and right now? All our Parent asks of us is that we acknowledge our neighbors as our family, then allow grace to take over our hearts. It is the only renewal we need. And also the only one with even the slightest chance of success.

Acts 2:1-11; Psalms 104:1-34; Romans 8:8-17; John 14:15-26

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

"Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" Or perhaps the disciples said it like this: "Jesus, now are you going to make Israel great again?" And perhaps they stood there "looking at the sky" because they were disappointed in our Brother's answer. Yes, we have always longed for the sort of savior who pledges to "restore the kingdom" according to our image. But will such a person, be they man or woman, left, right, or socialist, ever provide us with what we truly need? If the Ascension teaches us anything, it is that we have a very bad habit of looking in all the wrong places.

Acts 1:1-11; Psalms 47:2-9; Hebrews 9:24-10:23; Luke 24:46-53

Sixth Sunday of Easter

"Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid." How are we to do this, surrounded as we are by pain and anger? Trust. We are called to trust in our Parent's love, to trust that the Spirit will be with us when we need her, to trust that they will return for us when the time comes. Yes, such trust is a tall order. Yes, we would much prefer a plan to eliminate the sources of our troubles and fear. But our Brother did not leave us with one of those. No, he left us something better: hope. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Acts 15:1-29; Psalms 67:2-8; Revelation 21:10-23; John 14:23-29