Month: July 2021

“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” [John 6:34-35]. Have you ever had that eerie feeling that you needed something and yet, you couldn’t quite put a name on it? For example, I remember a few years ago, after our father died, I would sometimes find myself sitting in my reading chair, gazing off into space for something that seemed just beyond my visual reach. On several such occasions, Jane entered the room and, after seeing my expression, allowed that I seemed deep…

When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.” When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself [John 6:14-15]. For many of us, the feeding of the multitude story ranks high on our list of Gospel favorites. As you may know, it’s the only miracle story found in all four Gospels. The Gospel reading for this upcoming Sunday, the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (RCL, Year B) is John’s version, which has several important variations. For…

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me [Psalm 23:4]. One of the many personal advantages of living here in Durham is my proximity to one of my alma maters, Duke Divinity School. As you may know, for almost 20 years, I worked either on or near Duke’s campus. The Div School library is in a category of its own. Only Yale and Princeton would have anything like it. Prior to the pandemic, the Div School also sponsored numerous seminars, discussion groups, and other gatherings. During the pandemic,…

Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother [Mark 6: 25-28, portion of the Gospel lesson for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost (RCL, Year B)]. If…