Presby-Musings

I've been reflecting a great deal this week on the fragility of life and the impermanence of things.  It's just something I do from time to time, especially when I've been having more than a few conversations with people who are dealing with grief and loss.  Those conversations inevitably lead me to an examination of my own life and circumstances, and the many losses I've endured, combined with the uncertainty about the future, and a host of other things that bring emotions to the surface I'd rather not have to deal with.   Maybe that resonates with you.  Perhaps there are some readers today who are experiencing what I'm describing and feeling the same way.   In the trying moments of our lives, when despair seems to overshadow hope, it can be difficult to understand why we are burdened with such heavy sorrows.  We feel small, fragile, almost invisible, as if our capacity to endure is limited. Which is why the following words of the 13th-century po...

One of the more eye-opening things I learned about St. Mother Teresa came when I read portions of her secret diaries, which were published not long ago.   I was shocked to discover that for almost 50 years of her life, she lived without a sense of God's presence, and struggled with her faith in ways that were hard to imagine for someone who was widely thought to be one of the most faithful and fervent Christians on the planet.  Yet, despite her struggles, Mother Theresa was able to write beautifully about what it meant to be God's instrument, and to follow in the Way of Christ. She wrote:  “A sacrifice to the real must cost, must hurt, and must empty ourselves. Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your weakness.”   These powerful words remind us that seeking God's purposes for our lives involves sacrifice—an offering of ourselves that may require pain and vulnerabil...

The other day, I stumbled across a quote by the Swiss theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar, and I couldn't stop thinking about it.   Aside from having perhaps the best name in all of theology, von Balthasar knew a great deal about spiritual growth and its importance in our overall journey of faith.  Here's the quote:  “What you are is God's gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.”  These profound words remind us of both the challenges and the beauty of our spiritual growth journey.  Initially, we are given our existence, our talents, and our unique identity by God—God is the source of everything we are. But the true essence of our faith lies not just in what we are now, but in what we are becoming through our choices, intentions, and ongoing devotion to God. Further, this quote invites us to reflect on our role in our spiritual journey.  Our salvation is a gift from God—a grace that sustains us at every moment. Yet, it is also an invitation to c...

It’s Still Easter!  He is risen! We are still in the Season of Easter in the historic Church calendar, so let's keep celebrating.   The Season of Easter offers us a chance to experience the implications of the Resurrection and to trust Jesus as we follow him.   Today, we will read what is known as Jesus’ Final Discourse with his disciples, and the promise he made to them about giving them peace.  What is the most peaceful memory that you can think of? I want you to close your eyes and think about it.  If several pop into your mind, pick one and remember it.  Put yourself there, and try to remember what it was like.   The one that comes to mind happened nearly thirty years ago in Oxford, England. I was studying there for a semester during the summer, and I got up early one morning to go for a walk in Christ Church Meadow. The sun was coming up, the air was cool, and all I could hear were the birds, and the light was perfect.  It was ...

  I ran across a poem that spoke to me the other day and decided to reflect on it.  It's titled "Don't Just" by Roy T. Bennet:  Don't just learn, experience. Don't just read, absorb. Don't just change, transform. Don't just relate, advocate. Don't just promise, prove. Don't just criticize, encourage. Don't just think, ponder. Don't just take, give. Don't just see, feel. Don’t just dream, do. Don't just hear, listen. Don't just talk, act. Don't just tell, show. Don't just exist, live.” It can be difficult to maintain a hopeful and positive outlook in challenging circumstances. Yet, during these times, our faith and attitude can serve as powerful tools for transformation and renewal.  Roy T. Bennet’s poem compellingly reminds us that true growth happens when we move actively beyond surface-level engagement with life. His words inspire us to live with intention, especially when life feels difficult. He begins, “Don’t ju...

I've had my house for sale for seven months with no single offer. When it first went up for sale, I had great hopes that it would sell quickly and at my original asking price, but as the months have dragged on, I've had to lower my expectations and the price more than once.  People tell me that the timing is just poor, that potential buyers are afraid of our recent volatile economy, and are loath to commit until things become more stable.   I've had more than my fair share of angry rants within my largely empty house at God, and also at the people whose decisions have caused this volatile economy, leaving me sitting in limbo because of it.   But I'm also learning some things in the process that I feel like are important.   For example, I'm learning that practicing patience, while challenging when we're waiting, is a definite action and a way forward when it feels like our world has come to a halt.   Waiting is often one of the most challengin...

I've been in Florida this week, caring for my youngest son while his mom is on a trip.  He's nearly fifteen, so he doesn't require much, except to be driven to and from school, and to ensure there is enough food in the house.  That last bit is more challenging than it sounds because he's still growing, and he's playing football for the Spring, so he can eat a great deal, as I'm discovering anew.   I have attended my son's football practices this week, sitting in the stands and watching in the blistering Florida heat each afternoon. I was sitting roughly in the same spot where I sat sixteen years ago, watching his older brother practice on the same field.  The other afternoon, he made an incredible play during a scrimmage. He caught a pass across the middle of the field and carried three other kids with him into the endzone.   Then, just like his older brother used to, my boy looked over to me, where I was sitting, to see if I had been watching. ...

Every trip I've made with groups to the Holy Land includes a visit to the Garden Tomb, a site discovered in the late 1800s that many thought was the actual tomb of Jesus.  More recent scholarship has suggested that the tomb may have been constructed much later than the 1st century. In contrast, others argue it could have been constructed earlier in the Hellenistic period before Christ.   Either way, both arguments negate Scripture's claim that the tomb Jesus was placed in was a "newly hewn" tomb that had never been used.  As visitors step into the peaceful serenity of the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem, they are often struck by the quiet reverence that surrounds this sacred place.  Many believe it to be the site where Joseph of Arimathea laid Jesus' body after His crucifixion. The Garden Tomb offers a tangible connection to the most profound event in human history: the resurrection of Christ. Operated by a UK-based Christian organization, the garden invites guests to ...

On one of the final days of my recent trip to Israel, our group was invited to the home of an Israeli chef in Jerusalem. The chef prepared a traditional meal with some interesting twists, and she also demonstrated the cooking techniques with help from some of our group.  It was an amazing experience.  The wine was good, the food was amazing, and the conversations (both serious and light-hearted) were incredible.   There was a holiness in the room that could be felt.   Those moments are so precious to us as human beings. We often neglect the act of gathering with friends and loved ones to share a meal because we are busy, tired, or stressed.  But today, in a culture filled with broken connections, it's all the more reason to do so.   Eating together is a simple act, yet it holds profound significance in shaping community and fostering connection.  In a world often divided by differences—whether of culture, background, or beliefs—the share...

No journey to the Holy Land can be complete without a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the culmination of the Via Dolorosa pilgrimage path through the heart of the Old City.  In its current form, the Holy Sepulcher was reconstructed in the 9th century and refurbished during the Crusader era.  In 1757, during the Ottoman era, after violent clashes between Orthodox and Franciscan priests within the church, a system of governance was established that still exists today.  The Status Quo agreement stated that the Holy Sepulchre would be maintained by the following Christian groups: Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, Coptic, Syriac, and Ethiopian Orthodox churches.  Each group has it's own chapels, spaces and responsibilities.  Visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is an experience unlike any other. It is a sacred destination where countless pilgrims seek to touch the story of Jesus’ sacrifice, death, and r...

One of the great opportunities my group experienced when traveling with me to Israel was a fantastic boat cruise on the Sea of Galilee.   I've been on similar cruises when traveling to the Holy Land. Still, it never gets old to be out on the water of the Sea of Galilee, which is actually a below-sea-level, freshwater lake fed by the Jordan, which is actually not a river.   I know. Names happen sometimes, regardless of history, facts, and the like.   While we were having a pleasant cruise on the boat, I read the story of Jesus walking on water from Matthew's Gospel, and encouraged the group to spend a few moments in silence, looking around them and thinking about the story.   For my own part, I got to thinking more deeply about that story, and what it means to me, so I thought I'd share some of those thoughts.  During life’s storms, we easily find ourselves shaken, overwhelmed, and uncertain. But in Matthew 14:22-33, we are reminded of a profo...

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit the ruins of the ancient city of Hippos on the Golan Heights above the Sea of Galilee.  It was the first time I'd visited the site, and I couldn't have been more pleased.  Hippos was a Hellenistic city positioned high on a hill and was part of the Decapolis, ten Roman/Hellenistic cities that occupied the Golan Heights in the ancient world.  It was the site of a miracle of Jesus, and could very well have been the "city on a hill" that he referred to when teaching his disciples about being lights in the world.   In Mark 5:1-18, we encounter a dramatic story filled with spiritual and cultural meaning, especially in light of the Roman occupation of 1st-century Judea.  As Jesus and His disciples cross the Sea of Galilee, they arrive in the region of the Gerasenes, a territory marked more by Hellenistic influence and Roman dominance than by Jewish tradition.  This “other side” of the lake was a place of t...

On my recent visit to the Holy Land, I had the chance once again to visit the traditional site for Jesus' Sermon On The Mount, and the Church of the Beatitudes.   The Church of the Beatitudes was built on the site of an ancient Byzantine church. It was completed in 1938 by renowned Italian architect Antonio Barluzzi, who built numerous churches on Catholic holy sites throughout Israel.   The Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary maintain the site, which is one of the most beautiful on the Sea of Galilee.   During our visit, we gathered together, looking down to the edge of the Sea of Galilee, and listened to our guide Erez read from Matthew's beginning of the Sermon in Hebrew. We imagined a throng of people below us, looking up as Jesus taught.   The text we used was in Matthew 5:1-12, where Jesus begins His famous Sermon on the Mount with blessings known as the Beatitudes.  These words turn worldly expectations upside down: “Ble...

One of the great joys I have when I travel with a group on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land is teaching and offering onsite devotionals in the very places where Jesus ministered.  The Mount of Precipice, just outside of Jesus' hometown of Nazareth, is one of the sites where I particularly enjoy gathering my group together for a brief teaching on our expectations of Jesus versus what Jesus proclaimed as his purpose.   In Luke 4:16-30, Jesus begins His ministry in His hometown of Nazareth, reading from Isaiah and proclaiming His mission: “to proclaim good news to the poor... freedom for the oppressed... and recovery of sight for the blind.”  His words resonate deeply, but the response He receives is far from welcoming. When Jesus suggests His message is for everyone, especially those outside their familiar circle, His audience becomes infuriated. They are offended, unable to accept that God's mercy extends beyond their own community, beyond their comfort zone, beyond thei...

It’s Still Easter!  He is risen! The Season of Easter offers us a chance to experience the implications of the Resurrection and to trust Jesus as we follow him.  In fact, that is the title of our sermon series for the season of Easter: Trust Me.  This series answers the important question, "Jesus is risen, now what?" Today, we will read a challenging passage of Scripture that contains words from Jesus that can inspire us to trust him fully.  He proclaims that those who belong to Him will hear his voice.  What sounds imply belonging to us?   It could be a familiar song, the sounds of a familiar amusement park, or an old hymn at church. Voices and sounds that speak to our sense of belonging are deeply felt.   I have been thinking a lot about my mom this weekend.  She passed away eight years ago, but sometimes it feels like yesterday.  The weirdest thing happened to me the other day when I was thinking about her.  I forgot what he...

Located in northern Israel, near the Lebanese border, Caesarea Philippi's ancient grounds contain an impressive archaeological site and a vibrant, widely-used, spring-fed recreation area.   The site's modern name is Banyas, and the waters flowing from the spring inside an ancient cave have been flowing for thousands of years, eventually ending up in the Jordan.   Banyas has been a sacred site since prehistoric times. In Jesus' day, it was the site of several pagan temples to gods like Pan and Zeus and a temple to Caesar Augustus.   In Matthew 16:13-20, Jesus travels to Caesarea Philippi and asks His disciples two profound questions: "Who do people say that I am?" and, more intimately, "But who do you say that I am?"  These questions invite us to pause and reflect on our own understanding of Jesus Christ. They challenge us to examine our faith, our assumptions, and the depth of our relationship with Him. When Jesus first asks about the popular perceptio...

During our recent trip to the Holy Land, we had an incredible stay on the Sea of Galilee in the ancient village of Magdala.   The first-century village, including the synagogue, was unearthed during a recent construction project and has quickly become one of the most important archeological sites in the Holy Land.  It is almost certain that Jesus preached in the synagogue of Magdala, as it was one of the most populated villages of its day. But that's just part of the story.  In Mark 5:25-34, we have the story of a miracle that Jesus performed there that teaches us about trust and healing.   "A woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better, she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His cloak, thinking, ‘If I just buy His clothes, I will be healed.’ Immediately, her bleedin...

Tel Megiddo, a world heritage site, was among the many significant historic biblical sites I recently visited during my tour of the Holy Land.   This site contains archaeological evidence of prehistoric settlements, ancient Canaanite gates from King Solomon's era, and Bronze Age evidence of Israelite fortifications from the time of Elijah.  In Hebrew, Megiddo is called Har-Megiddo, which becomes Armageddon in the Greek translations of Scripture.   The plains of Jezreel, adjacent to Megiddo, have been the site of many ancient battles from antiquity throughout World War I.  In fact, in the first century, people reading from the book of Revelation would have recognized it as a place where battles are fought. They would have understood John the Revelator's reference to it as he wrote about the final battle between good and evil.   When I visited Megiddo on this trip, I had an epiphany about why Armageddon has become such a focal point for people who t...

As my latest group of pilgrims to the Holy Land discovered, no journey there is complete without a visit to Mt. Carmel, its spectacular views of the coast of Israel, and then beyond to the hill country surrounding the Galilee region.   It's also the biblical site of an epic showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal, the Mesopotamian storm god. The ancient people of the kingdom of Israel had endured a terrific drought, which brought famine into the land, and many had turned to worshipping Baal to end it.   As I stood on Mt. Carmel, I reflected on this story and its implications for my own life as I faced uncertainty.   At times in our lives, we may feel overwhelmed by circumstances that seem to suggest God has left us or forgotten us. In those moments, the temptation to turn away or to doubt His presence can be strong.  Yet, the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel in 1 Kings 18:25-39 reminds us of an essential truth: even when God seems distant, God ...