On the eastern side of Vancouver Island there’s a stretch of highway that cuts across a local summit. At this highest point, the forest suddenly breaks away, revealing a stunning vista: On a sunny day, you can see across the fertile green of the Saanich Peninsula, past the Gulf Islands, all the way to Mount … Continue reading Into the Luminous Darkness: A Reflection on Matthew 17.1-9
For the past couple of weeks, our Sunday readings have focused on the essentials of our faith. This hasn’t been in terms of doctrine — no creeds or catechism — but in terms of our posture before God and the world. Two weeks ago, we looked at the common assessment in the Law, Prophets, and … Continue reading The Moment of Decision: A Reflection on Deuteronomy 30.15-20
Last week’s readings asked the basic question, What does God want from us? We saw that the answer the Prophet Micah gave — to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God — is a pithier version of answers provided in the rest of the Old Testament, which can be summarized … Continue reading The Law of Jesus: A Reflection on Matthew 5.13-20
As a rule, Christians like to emphasize the ways in which the New Covenant revealed in and through Jesus differs from the Old. (This is particularly true of those coming from a Protestant background, since this was a particular emphasis of the Reformers.) And we are not wrong to do so — even if we … Continue reading What God Requires of Us: A Reflection on Micah 6.1-8 and Matthew 5.1-12
One of the most important moments in anyone’s life is the moment when we realize that we’re the grown up in the room; we’re the one who has to solve the problem, or step up into leadership. If done right, it’s a moment where we step into our identity and strength and truly become adults. … Continue reading The Summons: A Reflection on Matthew 4.12-23
Matthew Root 