Reflections for

Reign of Christ, Nov 23, 2014

Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24; Psalm 100; (Psalm 95:1-7a;) Ephesians 1:15-23; Matthew 25:31-46

Blogging Toward Sunday

In the heavenly places

Ephesians 1:15-23

May 06, 2013 by Barbara Rossing

The preacher faces several challenges in these Ascension texts. How can we present Jesus’ departure from the earth as an occasion for not sorrow but celebration? How to translate the kingship and hierarchical language into imagery that speaks to a world no longer governed by kings and monarchs?

Feminist biblical scholars note a third challenge: How can we counter Luke-Acts' use of the Ascension to exert a degree of social control?

Century Blogs

The Spiritual Meadow

by John Moschus

On reading a weird monk joke about underwear

Jan 17, 2013 by Amy Frykholm

As I mentioned before, I’ve been reading this strange book called The Spiritual Meadow, written by sixth-century wandering monk John Moschos. One of the last stories in the book was as relevant to my daily existence as any story I have read in a long time. I have only the vaguest idea what it means, but I do know it’s another weird monk joke. And this one was aimed directly at me.

The story goes like this: In the ancient city of Antioch, the church had various kinds of social services. “A man who was a friend of Christ” used to gather supplies and give them out to people in need.

Features

Brush with evil

The work of a public defender

Jan 09, 2013 by Jeanne Bishop

"How can you defend those people?" That's a question we public defenders hear a lot.

In the World

In which Bob Dylan takes second billing

Nov 21, 2012 by Steve Thorngate

While my home church sang praises to King Jesus and also ran a food pantry, the Feast of the Reign of Christ boldly proclaims that the hungry won't be hungry forever. While others in the '60s juxtaposed sweet harmonies with earnestly social lyrics, Dylan conjured a complex vision of social upheaval—a vision both threatening and profoundly hopeful.

Features

What Jesus is doing

The ministry of the risen Lord

Sep 11, 2012 by Christopher Holmes

For years I have heard it said that the Christian community is to "incarnate" Jesus through word and deed. This makes me nervous.

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Revised Common Lectionary © 1992 the Consultation on Common Texts. Used by permission.