Authors /
Laurel Mathewson
Laurel Mathewson is co-vicar at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in San Diego and author of An Intimate Good: A Skeptical Christian Mystic in Conversation with Teresa of Ávila.
The suffering that remains (Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:8-20; 1 Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21)
How can we know which suffering is generative and which is pointless?
May 10, Easter 6A (John 14:15–21; 1 Peter 3:13–22)
Blessed are the poor, in ways that make no earthly sense.
Who’s gonna drive you home? (Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16; 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14)
Jelly Roll’s Grammy speech was a heartfelt testimony to the power of a relationship with Jesus.
May 3, Easter 5A, (1 Peter 2:2–10; John 14:1–14)
The soul is not a tiny gem or a needle in a haystack, hidden away or easily crushed.
An ordinary Epiphany (Isaiah 60:1-6; Matthew 2:1-12)
The glorious and impressive features are only half of the story.
Joining in song (Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98; Hebrews 1:1-12)
Sometimes someone else has to start singing before we can.
Idylls without idols (1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26; Luke 2:41-52)
There’s a lot of a certain sort of pleasure pursued around Christmas.
January 6, Epiphany (Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12)
Theology is not popularly understood to be a landscape where dreams are welcome.
December 26, Christmas 1 (Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:41-52)
Why am I so skeptical about sitting and learning at the feet of others?
December 24/25, Nativity (Isaiah 52:7-10; John 1:1-14)
What is the story within the story that we need to hear anew?
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For fear of the Jews? (John 20:19-31; Acts 2:14a, 22-32; Second Sunday of Easter, Year A)
This Sunday is one where some re-education and re-framing might be helpful.
Hope for exiles (Easter Day A; Jeremian 31:1-6)
The idea of preaching from Jeremiah on Easter Sunday scares me.
April 19, Easter 2A (John 20:19–31; 1 Peter 1:3–9)
There's more than one way to taste and see the goodness of God.
April 12, Easter Day (Acts 10:34–43; Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24; Matthew 28:1–10)
What kind of faith gets you through 25 years in a refugee camp?
Hatred in my heart
Have you ever been inordinately annoyed by someone else's clothing? I have, and in my experience this is a classic indicator of what this week's Leviticus reading calls “hating someone in my heart.” When I'm repressing anger or frustration, I suddenly notice the hideously out-of-date belt my relative is wearing, or the way-too-short-in-every-inseam pantsuit my co-worker has on. The clothes are never the true offense, of course, but they send off alarms: time to speak up.
Sunday, October 26, 2014: Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18; Matthew 22:34-46; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
We have, in fact, been given a simple code for living.