Today, the Sunday after Epiphany, is when we here in the West commemorate the baptism of Jesus at the hands of John the Baptist. It’s a formative event in Jesus’ life, and functions as his ‘call to action’, marking him as special to those around him and confirming his identity. It’s also the narrative passing … Continue reading Ritual and Rebirth: A Reflection on the Baptism of Christ
There's no new Epiphany reflection from me this year, but here are some of my previous posts: Theme of Light God’s Shining Forth: A Reflection on Epiphany and Genesis 1.1-5 (2024) It Only Takes a Spark: A Reflection for Epiphany 2023 Arise! Shine! : A Reflection for Epiphany 2021 Theme of the Magi Wise Men … Continue reading Resources for Epiphany / Theophany
Friday’s post here marked the end of a series on the nature of authority in Christianity. That series reinforced for me an old truth: that Tradition is applying the wisdom of the past in the new circumstances of the present, for the sake of the future. When it’s working well, Tradition doesn’t just look backward, … Continue reading The Mountaintop: A Reflection on Mark 9.2-9
There’s a popular saying out there that says “Hurt people hurt people.” It’s a helpful proverb that reminds us that people who are acting out are often acting more out of their past hurts and patterns than out of anything in the present. We see this at work everywhere from the playground to legislatures to … Continue reading Mimetic Love: A Reflection on 1 Corinthians 9:16-23
[I was well into writing this week's post when I realized I was saying pretty much exactly what I wrote three years ago when this reading last came around in the lectionary. So, here's that original post once again.] There's a great scene in a classic episode of The Simpsons in which Homer, having been … Continue reading The Freedom to Love: A Reflection on 1 Corinthians 8.1-13 (Repost)
Matthew Root 