Today's Gospel reading is the Parable of the Sower: God's Kingdom is described as a farmer who spreads seed over his lands. He does this abundantly, even wastefully, casting it onto the rocks and roadside as much as on his fields. It's a fascinating story because it presents a unique and perhaps surprising perspective on … Continue reading Working the Land (A Reflection on the Parable of the Sower)
Two thousand years ago, Jesus and his followers unleashed a strange new message into the world of the Roman Empire, which was nearing the apex of its power and authority. It was a world of large cosmopolitan cities and rural villages more-or-less untouched by the complications of 'modern' life. It was a world of unprecedented … Continue reading Empire Then and Now
I love how after forty years of being in the Church, the Scriptures can still take me by surprise sometimes. I was excited this week to see that the Gospel for today included Jesus' beautiful words offering rest and comfort for weary people: "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy … Continue reading Work. And Rest.
We've been hearing a lot lately in the news and public discourse about bodies, specifically about black bodies, brown bodies, and white bodies. The news has been difficult to watch. What the news reveals about our society and its values has perhaps been even more difficult for many of us to ingest. In recent years … Continue reading In Our Bodies
Big problems in society, in the Church, or in our selves, often feel intractable. The same problems recur again and again, followed by the same arguments, the same promises to do better, and on and on it goes. It's easy to feel hopeless and despair of finding a way forward. One truth that has never … Continue reading Start Here Now
Matthew Root 