The Great Reversal: Birds, Lilies, and Climate Anxiety (Luke 12.22-34)

This weekend, houses of worship around the country will participate in the annual “Preach-In” on climate change hosted by Interfaith Power and Light.  IPL started as a “religious response to global warming” fifteen years ago when a coalition of Episcopal congregations in California joined together to purchase renewable energy. Since then, they’ve broadened their focus and partnered with a wide …

The Bosom of Abraham

This is one of those weeks where I’m not quite sure what to do.  For the past couple of weeks we’ve been talking about the “Great Reversal” in Luke.  This week we’re looking at another paradigmatic example of that, the story of Lazarus.  Note this is not the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead found in John 11, …

The Great Reversal (Program and Recap)

Program Good conversation last Sunday.  Bonus points to Sarah for saying that transformation starts with hope.  I’m always blessed by the wisdom of the gathering.  I did want to comment on one part of the conversation. In talking about a larger, cosmic battleground in Luke, we stumbled upon questions of interreligious dialogue.  It’s a question that bedevils those who are …

The Great Reversal

Long before I came to Church in the Cliff or went to seminary and was exposed to the liturgical calendar, I received a covert education on it.  Living in New Orleans, one is immersed in the flow of that calendar.  The already low productivity in the Big Lazy drops even more after Thanksgiving.  Holiday parties and ski vacations for those …