[I preached this sermon last Sunday at Broadway Presbyterian Church in NYC. I’ve included the passage, prayer, and sermon. It was written between overnights at the shelter, a Student Senate Retreat, and supporting another friend who preached earlier that morning.] Mark 1:14-20 NRSV Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the goodContinue reading “leaving our nets behind: sermon on discipleship”
Tag Archives: Jesus
re-radicalizing scripture
Holy Scriptures endure, partially, to disrupt the lives of its adherents. This seems to be true for all religions. Of course, in each of their texts, there are a few voices that advocate for rich and powerful*, yet overall religious texts point toward justice and caring for the neighbor. In this way, Scriptures are dangerous. TheyContinue reading “re-radicalizing scripture”
an epiphany sermon
This sermon was preached on January 4th, 2015 at The First Reformed Church of South River, NJ. A few summers ago, I lived at St. Joseph’s Catholic Worker in Rochester, NY. For those who do not know about it, the Catholic Worker was founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in the 1930’s. They wantedContinue reading “an epiphany sermon”
jesus the riddler and the parable of the talents: a sermon
Jesus loved to work with parables. And in Matthew’s Gospel, from the 13th chapter onward, you can find them everywhere. I like to think of parables like I think of riddles. They make your mind think one way, but really the answer is flying in the opposite direction. Growing up, my mom would prepare theContinue reading “jesus the riddler and the parable of the talents: a sermon”
the people’s climate march and hermeneutics
I’ll admit it: I’m a hermeneutics fanatic. Whenever I enter a bookstore, I head straight for the literary criticism section. There is something enthralling thumbing through Roland Barthes’ Mythologies, Edward Said’s postcolonial criticism of Jane Eyre‘s madwoman in the attic, and the overweight, almost 3,000 page, Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. I am fascinatedContinue reading “the people’s climate march and hermeneutics”
my favorite version of the lord’s prayer
Working on my sermon on the Lord’s Prayer, I remembered this beautiful version: O Breathing Life, your Name shines everywhere! Release a space to plant your Presence here. Imagine your possibilities now. Embody your desire in every light and form. Grow through us this moment’s bread and wisdom. Untie the knots of failure binding us,Continue reading “my favorite version of the lord’s prayer”
love as resistance: the call for enemy-love in the 21st century
Washing dishes is a menial task and if you never cook at home someone else is paid (poorly, I might add) to wash them for you. Recently I moved into [another] community house where we share the responsibility of dish-washing. Although, some people take up the charge more than others, of course. I am remindedContinue reading “love as resistance: the call for enemy-love in the 21st century”
jesus was a cyborg
As custom, posthuman films, including Her, Transcendence, and Lucy, prescribe qualities on the anthropological project. Questions for viewers arise: What does it mean to be human? Are humans unique because their conscience? Is it necessary to have a body to be human? These films convey simply that to be human means to demonstrate a willContinue reading “jesus was a cyborg”
Queering the Stations of the Cross(es): Jesus meets his mother
(Guest post by asescalante) While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, “Who isContinue reading “Queering the Stations of the Cross(es): Jesus meets his mother”
Queering the Stations of the Cross(es): Jesus falls thrice times
(Guest post by asescalante) Like the many before him who would fall, and the many after who will fall, Jesus falls. Under the weight of that which will eventually kill him he falls; this weight is not simply the physical burden of wooden beam(s), but is the weight of the Empire that would find theContinue reading “Queering the Stations of the Cross(es): Jesus falls thrice times”
black flag theology 