This past fall, I did a whole series on the Sermon on the Mount, a large section of ethical teaching stretching from Matthew 5-7. In the Gospel according to Luke, this material is condensed into just about twenty verses, with 6.20-26 covering the Beatitudes and today’s reading, 6.27-38, covering the rest in a rapid-fire barrage … Continue reading In Summary: A Brief Reflection on Luke 6.27-38
The lectionary this time of year can often feel a bit all over the place. This is because there are two calendars that overlay each other: the ‘normal’ seasonal calendar, in which we’re in the fourth Sunday after Epiphany, and the festal calendar based on the timing of events in Jesus’ life. And so while … Continue reading A Sword to the Soul: A Reflection on Luke 2.22-40
It hasn’t been a good week for the ‘better angels’ of human nature. At pretty much every turn, it seems cruelty and unfeeling self-concern has become king. As a follower of Jesus, it’s a tough pill to swallow — especially when people who claim to also follow Jesus are either leading the war against mercy … Continue reading Vocation and the Way of Christ: A Reflection on Luke 4.14-21
For better or for worse, we humans are storied people. Not only are we shaped by our personal and national experiences, but we also tend to assume those experiences are universal. And so, St. Augustine struggled with reining in his libido and so developed a theology that linked the Fall to sex, Martin Luther struggled … Continue reading Christianity, Shadow, and Jung’s Diagnosis of Modern Europe
2024 was an absolute banner year for the blog in terms of readership growth, showing an over 170% increase in page views from 2023. Thanks to all of you who contributed to this remarkable growth! As I like to do every year, I thought I’d take some time at year’s end to look at the … Continue reading Best of the Blog, 2024
Matthew Root 