D-V's Desk

              The Christian community lost someone special this past week.   Even though “the Bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction here,” [1] I prayed for Francis during his recent illness and hospitalization.   Many, Christian and non-Christian alike, also prayed for Francis.   Such was the power of Jorge Mario Bergoglio (to use his given name). Jorge was, by all accounts, a gentle and humble person.   He chose to forgo the papal stipend and did not sleep in the Papal Apartment.   Francis also did not wear the usual fancy silk vestments and red shoes of previous popes.   His burial arrangements are also simple- one coffin in a lesser-known church as opposed to under St. Peter’s Basilica.             Like his namesake, Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis was a determined advocate for the poor and marginalized.   A Vatican plaza became a homeless shelter.   Ma...

              It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”             So begins “A Tale of Two Cities.”   I can think of no better words to describe this present moment.   Dickens writes in 1859 to describe pre-Revolution France.   And I am sure I am not alone in this train of the thought.   I think even the people in the Bible can relate.   Maybe, you can, too.             Darkness, the absence of light, is a prelude to God working in the Biblical narrative.   All is in darkness before God calls forth creation.   No light is seen from noon u...

 Holy Week is here.  This week we follow along with Jesus.   We walk with Him as Jesus enters Jerusalem to shouts of praise and much fanfare.  You and I walk with Jesus as He is led from the Garden to trial after trial. We are even there as Jesus is crucified for us, giving up His life that we might live. Many local church communities will have special services this week to mark this holy week: Maundy Thursday:  Jesus' last meal with His friends when He asks them to share bread and wine in His name.  Jesus also washes their feet and commands them to love one another as He loves them.  The disciples accompany Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane for prayer. Good Friday:  Jesus is hung on a cross to die after several trials and after being beaten and mocked by the crowds.  As Jesus dies, He asks God's forgiveness for those who betrayed, mocked, beat, and crucified Him - - and you and me. Holy Saturday:  Jesus' body lies in the tomb....

             Anointing was common custom in the Ancient Near East.   The Hebrew Scriptures tell us that monarchs and prophets were anointed.   The oil signified that they had been set apart for the community.   For example, Aaron is anointed for his ministry as God’s priest.   The prophet Isaiah is anointed to speak God’s word. In the Gospels, Jesus appears to be anointed 3 times.   Once by an unnamed woman in the home of Simon the Leper (Matt. 26:6–13, Mark 14:3–9).   A second time by a “sinful woman” in the home of Simon the Pharisee (Luke 7:36-50).   And here, in John, by Mary of Bethany in the home she shares with her sister Martha and their brother Lazarus.          You may remember Mary.   She is the slacker who sat as Jesus’ feet as He taught.   Her sister, Martha, is left to offer hospitality by herself.   Martha’s complaint to Jesus brings Martha a mi...

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, “What makes this night different from any other night?”           In a few weeks that important question will fill houses all across the world.   As our Jewish friends celebrate Passover, the youngest of each household begins the Seder with this question.   As the special meal progresses, the story of the first Passover (Exodus 12) is retold.   When God’s people were slaves in Egypt , the angel of the Lord God “passed over” the homes marked with Lamb’s blood.   Only the Egyptians and their animals suffered that day.   And, finally, at long last the king set God’s people free.           To this day, our Jewish brothers and sisters obey God’s command to remember the Passover in a yearly celebration.   Theirs is not a passive remembering of some distant event which happened to ancestors far removed.   Nor is the story som...

  1-2  I’ll sing a ballad to the one I love,     a love ballad about his vineyard: The one I love had a vineyard,     a fine, well-placed vineyard. He hoed the soil and pulled the weeds,     and planted the very best vines. He built a lookout, built a winepress,     a vineyard to be proud of. He looked for a vintage yield of grapes,     but for all his pains he got garbage grapes. 3-4  “Now listen to what I’m telling you,     you who live in Jerusalem and Judah. What do you think is going on     between me and my vineyard? Can you think of anything I could have done     to my vineyard that I didn’t do? When I expected good grapes,     why did I get bitter grapes?             Gardens and vineyards are a common image in the...