Tag Archives: mystery

The Irrational Christian

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Second Sunday in Lent (Mark 8:31-38)  03/01/2015

Earlier this week I was attending a gathering with my clergy colleagues. We met at a church located close to a college campus and the topic of young adults and faith came up in our conversation. Someone shared the observation that a number of college students who regularly attend worship services and claim that the practice of their Christian faith is important in their lives had been questioned by their peers for their faith in God; often challenged for their faith and devotion…behavior deemed to be irrational. Irrational…meaning one exhibiting behavior that lacks normal mental clarity, reason or understanding. As I listened to my clergy colleague tell this story that placed such a great value on reason and understanding, I was reminded of a recent interview on an Irish TV show called, “The Meaning of Life,” hosted by Gay Byrne. The guest of the show was Stephen Fry, (well-known actor, author, and atheist), and Byrne asked him, “[I know that you do not believe in God, but] suppose it’s all true, and you walk up to the pearly gates, and are confronted by God. What will you say?” Fry responded, “I would say this: How dare you? How dare you create a world to which there is such misery that is not our fault. It’s not right, it’s utterly, utterly evil. Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world that is so full of injustice and pain. That’s what I would say.” Fry’s words are quite strong and perhaps a bit unedited toward the One we believe is holy and almighty, and perhaps like the host of the show your jaw has dropped a bit from its normal resting place. Continue reading →

The Great Silence of Holy Week

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Palm Sunday (Matthew 27:11-54)  04/13/2014

As we come into the presence of God, whether alone or in a group as we do this morning, there are many varieties of worship and prayer: sacred music, the reading of Scripture, intercessory prayer, or meditation to name just a few. A month ago I spent a few days at the Holy Cross Monastery and joined the brothers of that Order in their time of silence in the presence of God. Extended periods of silence are sometimes hard to find these days, and there are certainly those for whom this is good news…I will admit, silence is not for everyone, and fortunately we have many varieties of worship and prayer. But silence holds a particular power and silence is something we experience this morning as we listen to the dramatic story of the Passion of Jesus Christ. Continue reading →

Holy “thin places” and the presence of Christ

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Fifth Sunday in Lent (John 11:1-45)  04/06/2014

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A few years ago my family and I spent a fun and exciting week on vacation in Nevada and Arizona, the highlight for me being our visit to the Grand Canyon. During our time there we spent a day rafting down a river that cut through the Glen Canyon, an area just north of the Grand Canyon. Floating down the river was a spectacular experience, watching the multitude of vibrant colors paint the canyon walls and seeing the many layers of rock and sediment, each layer reaching out into the present, telling its own story of the past. Beyond the rugged beauty of the place, there was a deep spiritual element that seemed to pervade the entire canyon. The canyon seemed to be what many people have called a “thin place;” a place where the separation between heaven and earth is so narrow the face of God seems to be just around the corner. I do not mean to suggest God has some peculiar preference for a few spots on earth over others, but there is some tangible power and mystery to certain holy places. The manifestation of this holy presence, in these thin places, is the foundation of the Christian discipline of pilgrimage. Pilgrims often set aside their cares of the world and take up a journey to seek these thin places, to seek an experience with God in new and mysterious ways (our J2A pilgrims are very familiar with this idea and can attest to its power). We are nourished and nurtured in powerful ways as we come into the presence of the God; powerful ways that sustain us in times when we might feel more distant or perhaps more challenged to be close to the presence of the holy. Continue reading →

Flooding our hearts with the saving grace of Christ

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Second Sunday of Easter (John 20:19-31)  04/07/2013

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Several years ago, as a member of the US Navy Reserve, I had the opportunity to participate in a multi-national naval exercise in the waters just south of Ireland. As we prepared for the exercise I learned that I was assigned to be an observer on a German U-boat, a submarine 150 ft. in length with a crew of about 20 people; an up-close and personal experience for sure. The participants of the exercise gathered on the coast of France to discuss the details of the coming week at sea, and after the meeting I met the Captain of the German submarine. He greeted me in perfect English and after a brief introduction he asked me where I had learned to speak German. I told him that, unfortunately, I did not speak German. He was quite surprised at my answer and said, “Do you realize that you will be at sea for more than a week in a German submarine…and you do not speak German?” I assured him that I did realize this was about to happen and that I really did not speak German…I could say “hello,” “goodbye” and “thank you.” “Why would the US Navy send an officer aboard a German submarine who cannot speak German?” he replied. “Because we’re Americans and sometimes we do crazy things,” I answered. He laughed, and did not believe a word of what I said. We arrived at the submarine and he introduced me to the crew, telling them that I did not speak German, but that they should be careful because he did not believe me and I might be secretly collecting information. Several times throughout the first few days the Captain tried to trick me by giving directions or telling funny jokes in German, all to his great disappointment. He struggled to believe the truth of the story that was before him. Continue reading →

“Walking with God”

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Pentecost 13 (1 Kings 8:1-30)  08/26/2012

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A few weeks ago while on vacation with my family I had the wonderful opportunity to go on a cruise to Alaska! The cruise was a trip to one of the last frontiers in the United States. Although tourists descend upon Alaska every year, much of the landscape has retained its rugged natural beauty: glaciers stretching toward the ocean; mountain peaks reaching toward the heavens; and clouds, fog and rain seemingly ever-present, covering the entire region in a soft white blanket. Once I had finally accepted the idea that “water” (in its various forms) was simply part of the trip, the clouds and fog seemed to enhance the beauty of the landscape rather than detract from it. Throughout the week, the fog never fully obstructed our view; but instead seemed to rest like a delicate white stole, draped over the majestic mountains, shrouding the sacred beauty of the area. As we stood on the deck of the ship and looked out and up, the landscape appeared mysteriously beautiful and incredibly large, so large, in fact, that keeping objects in perspective was often difficult. The 250 foot wall of the glacier face appeared to be half that high and mountains that appeared close enough to touch were in fact miles away (which meant a lot more rowing during the river boat excursion than first expected!). The might and majesty of nature seemed beyond containment and the vast beauty of the region had no end. Continue reading →

“Traveling the Pilgrim road”

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Fifth Sunday of Easter (Acts 8:26-40)  05/06/2012

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From my earliest days of school I can remember learning about the Pilgrims of the Bay Colony and their struggles to live in a land that was new and foreign to them. Growing up in New England, the story of how these early settlers survived their first winter through the generosity and instruction of the native people they encountered created powerful images of two worlds coming together for the good. In thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest that was granted to them through the grace of God, these early Pilgrims took time out of their day and they ate turkey, they watched football and took a nap late in the afternoon…oh wait, that was last year! The first Thanksgiving was a bit different from the celebrations of today, but the Pilgrims of nearly four centuries ago did share something with pilgrims that set out on journeys today – pilgrims are in search for the grace and love of God as it is to be found in our world. Last Sunday at the forum we heard stories and saw many wonderful pictures of the mission trip to Cuba; and although the journey was a mission trip, the experience was also a pilgrimage to a special place where God’s grace is to be discovered among the people of Cuba…and this discovery cannot help but transform the traveling pilgrim. This morning in our Sunday forum we were introduced to the J2A pilgrimage to Belize. For the young men and women of the J2A class, their pilgrimage comes as a continuing element of their growth and development as young Christians. And this is the very idea of pilgrimage: a pilgrim sets out on a journey to discover things unknown, marvel at mysteries never experienced, and ultimately, to imagine how all these wonders point to the grace of God. The pilgrim sets out on a journey confident that the road traveled will provide a unique experience and foster the growth and development of one’s faith. Continue reading →

“Discover the mysteries of Easter”

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Easter morning (Mark 16:1-8)  4/8/2012

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A few days ago I sat in my house looking out a window and reflecting on the Gospel reading we just heard from Mark’s Gospel account. As I stared out the window I noticed a truck towing three large trees pass by and stop at the center median just a few hundred feet down the street. There was a police car close behind and as they began to spread orange cones around their work site I was reminded of a conversation I had years ago. Shortly after I moved to the Chicago area I asked a friend of mine if she found the landscape of the Midwest to be monotonous. I asked her this question because I found the flat terrain and prairie vegetation to be lacking as compared to the rolling hills and beautiful trees of the Northeast. She dismissed my preferences for the Northeast, telling me that she not only loved the Midwest’s landscapes but she was glad to not have to worry about all those trees hanging over her head. “Give me open spaces and big sky any day!” she told me. I laughed at her suggestion that the beautiful trees that imitated natural covered bridges and flowered arches would fall from the sky. At least, I found her suggestion to be laughable until last October. The late fall snowstorm that unleashed unimaginable destruction and lasted for days (that turned into weeks) made something that always seemed unlikely become incredibly real. Continue reading →