The four Gospels all tell the story of Jesus in different ways: for Matthew Jesus is primarily a teacher, extending and enriching the Law; for Mark he is an apocalyptic figure, ushering in a new age (just don't tell anyone about it); for Luke he is a prophet with deep concern for the marginalized; and … Continue reading Sight to the Blind: A Reflection on Mark 10.46-52
I once worked with a woman who was, let's say, 'challenging' to be around. She was brusque and impatient, and never had a kind word to say about anyone. Every day at lunch, she told us stories of an estranged relative, an unreasonable neighbour, or a friend with whom she was on the outs. The … Continue reading On Normalizing Sin (Without Minimizing it)
Today is Canada's first official National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This is an important small step for our country as we grapple with a past we'd rather forget and difficult questions about how to move forward well. If you are looking for ways to commemorate the day, the Government of Canada offers up some … Continue reading Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
We've all been there, from the clumsiest of us (like me!) to professional athletes: Just walking or running along minding our own business, when suddenly something trips us up and we stumble. It's an apt metaphor for life itself, and specifically the life of faith. Months and years can pass by without incident — we … Continue reading Tripping Points: A Reflection on Mark 9.38-59
Despite its excesses, the postmodern movement has offered us a lot of gifts. One of these gifts is its insistence that story-telling always involves questions of power, and so in any history or tale we need to ask ourselves whose story isn't being told. We've seen some of the good fruit this approach can bear … Continue reading The Dancing Girl
Matthew Root 