Mark 10:17-31 By Melody Kroeger October 11, 2015 It is, for all intents and purposes, a compelling image: the camel going through the eye of a needle. In my experience sitting in churches, both large and small, this verse from the Gospel of Mark always raises eyebrows. And, when it is proclaimed the text will almost invariably come with a generic defense of riches, to allow the financial comfortable to remain comfortable. This sort of defense usually takes one of several options. The … [Read more...]
Blessing of the Animals
Blessing of the Animals by Melody Kroeger October 4, 2015 At least 10 years ago, a friend of mine and fellow animal lover, sent me a series of photos that still makes me laugh. I’m betting some of you have seen it making the Internet and email rounds. Two churches in an unnamed town got to arguing. And it was a very public argument, played out on the large signs in front of their buildings—you know, the kind we have on our front lawn? The kind of sign with movable letters that can be … [Read more...]
Living Discipleship
September 13, 2015 Mark 9:30-37 by Melody Kroeger Many of you might be familiar with the slogan - WWJD – "What Would Jesus Do?" Based on a book written by Charles Sheldon in 1896, this popular slogan can be seen on bracelets and bumper-stickers. It appeals to the common human trait of empathy. We are encouraged to imagine ourselves in the shoes of Jesus as our model for the behavior that we are to strive for in true discipleship. But, sometimes, I wonder about how or why we would … [Read more...]
Bread for the Journey
August 9 Homily by Melody Kroeger John 6:35, 41-51 (A sermon delivered in both English and Spanish at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Seattle) Sometimes the biblical texts selected for a particular Sunday seem to be chosen randomly. The Hebrew scripture and the Gospel readings don’t seem to belong to one another, to inform or support one another. But today, it would be difficult to miss the rich theology in the Hebrew and Christian texts. A veces los textos bíblicos seleccionados para … [Read more...]
For You
5 Pentecost B—6/28/15 Mark 5:21-43 By Melody Kroeger Many of you, maybe even most of you, have read the great American novel Grapes of Wrath. If you haven’t read the novel, perhaps you’ve seen the movie – John Ford’s adaptation, starring a very young Henry Fonda. The novel lays out the story of one Oklahoma family, the Joads, leaving their devastated Dust Bowl home to find work picking fruit in California. As the family pulls out of a gasoline station, one attendant, remarking on the … [Read more...]
Into the Boat
4 Pentecost B—6/21/15 By Melody Kroeger Have you ever been in a boat, a raft, a fishing vessel or even a ferry, set upon by heavy swells? Imagine the disciples, trapped between the savage forces of wind, waves, and water. Their small fishing boat rolls from side to side and pitches up and down like a see-saw. At any moment, the accumulation of waves breaking over the boat’s bow will become too much for the small boat to carry and it will be dragged under the water by its sheer … [Read more...]
We Belong to God
Easter 7B—5/17/15 Acts 1:15-17,21-26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19 By Melody Kroeger A Pew Research poll on religion, released last week, found that the number of people identifying themselves as “Christians” has fallen significantly, while the number of U.S. adults who do not identify with any organized religion is growing. Facebook will begin publishing news content directly from nine news media organizations. Why? Because media consultants found that 57% of consumers will … [Read more...]
A Mother’s Love
Easter 6B—5/10/15 By Melody Kroeger As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; you abide in my love. It is fitting that we hear these words today on Mother’s Day, for the command to love is central to the Gospel of John. But I think we miss an opportunity if we only acknowledge mothers today. For many of us – it’s a dad, sister, brother, or grandmother who bears the responsibility – and the joy – of raising us up. Regardless of who that person is – we all have someone – who has … [Read more...]
The Good Shepherd
Easter 4B—4/26/15 by Melody Kroeger David and I belong to the dwindling demographic that has the daily Seattle Times newspaper delivered to our house. Last week there was an article from Kelso that captured our attention. According to the Times, “the family of Jerry Moon opened his casket for their final goodbyes and were startled” – shocked you might say – to find an absolute stranger in Mr. Moon’s place. Mr Moon, aged 72 and another man, Mr. P aged 97, both died at the same … [Read more...]
Ripples in the Universe
by Maggie Breen Ann Weems. Ann is a poet. She is person who can craft words and the images they carry in a way that invite the reader to thoughts and feelings and insights that can be hard to grasp, hard to acknowledge perhaps, hard to pay attention to. In 1995, 13 years after the death of her 21 year old son Ann Weems writes.... “And still I weep. On that day in 1982 the stars fell from my sky and still I weep.”i The years have passed and she has been loved and cared for by those dear to her … [Read more...]