Self-righteousness is a funny form of sin: It is pretty much universally loathed, yet also pervasive, and it is among the easiest sins for us to spot in others, yet one of the hardest to spot in ourselves. This very problem, however, says something important about what self-righteousness actually is: an inversion of repentance so … Continue reading The Pharisee and the Tax Collector: A Reflection on Luke 18.9-14
One of the most-quoted literary works of the twentieth-century is not a novel, a poem, or a play, but something that wasn’t supposed to be ‘literature’ at all. I'm talking about the collection of personal letters written by the poet Rainer Maria Rilke, published in 1929 as Letters to a Young Poet. In these letters, … Continue reading Sound Advice: A Reflection on 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
“Lord, increase our faith!” These words from the start of today's Gospel reading are some of the most relatable words the apostles ever speak, even if the demand does not work out well for them. Today I’d like to look at what might have prompted the disciples’ demand, how Jesus responded to it, and what … Continue reading Increase Our Faith: A Reflection on Luke 17.5-10
It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these regular reflections on the Sunday readings. I had to smile when I was preparing for today’s post, since the process felt so familiar. Looking at the world around me, it’s hard not to think “Wow, things are really hard and all signs point to them … Continue reading Audacious Trust: A Reflection on Jeremiah 32.1-3, 6-15
There are a lot of passages of Scripture that require careful consideration, nuance, and exploration of context for us to understand them well. Today’s Gospel is not among them. It is among the simplest, most basic Gospel messages, at the core of Christian teaching (and Jewish teaching before it), and yet somehow it’s a message … Continue reading Do This and Live: A Reflection on Luke 10:25-37
Matthew Root 