reconciliation

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Rupture and Reconciliation: Walking the Way of Love

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It is also a story of a clash of two different world views or mindsets, imaginations of how this world should operate. One mindset is the one of the brothers, who are afraid. It is a mindset of punishment, revenge, vengeance, an eye for an eye justice. They know they did wrong, they know they should be punished for it, and are afraid of what that punishment is going to look like. That is their view of how things are probably going to go.

The other mindset is the one that Joseph has, which is the imagination of forgiveness, of mercy, of grace, of reconciliation. I think the brothers’ mindset is probably where most of the world is. A lot of the time, most of us feel that same way, too.

Listen to or read Bingham’s entire sermon by clicking “Read More.”

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Calling Us By Name

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Grant that when we hear God’s voice, we may know who's calling us, and then follow. Like animals who know their caregivers, or children who know their parents’ voices, like siblings, friends, or lovers who instantly turn at the sound of their names and the unique voices of those speaking, Jesus lovingly and longingly calls out our names, beckoning us into relationship with God.

Listen to or read Ryan’s entire sermon for the Fourth Sunday of Easter by clicking “Read More.”

A Sacrament of Reconciliation

It is with that understanding of the importance of reconciliation that we come to our Gospel. We hear the words of Jesus when he says to love your enemy. Striking, shocking words "to love your enemy". Jesus says that because he knows, he understands how vitally important the work of reconciliation is.

Click “Read More” to read Bingham’s entire sermon for the Seventh Sunday after Epiphany.

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Repentance: Preparing Our Hearts for Jesus

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It’s Advent, that wonderful, delightful time to prepare for Christmas. And there are all kinds of ways we do that: we might light candles on an Advent wreath, put up a tree, decorate the home, hang some boughs, put up some lights outside to light up the world, baking, shopping for presents, shipping gifts, sending Christmas cards. But who among you reflects on the fact that you are a “brood of vipers?” I don’t see a single hand going up. It’s not the usual Advent preparation we think about, but it is the one that John the Baptist calls us to today. We usually think about repentance as part of our Lenten preparations for Easter, but it is a part of these Advent preparations. It is a minor note, but it is here: “You brood of vipers. Bear fruit worthy of repentance.”

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Face of God

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Abraham and Sarah had a son, Isaac. Isaac and Rebekah had twins, Esau and Jacob. Esau was the oldest, he came out first and Jacob right after, hanging onto his brother’s heel. They fought in the womb and they kept on fighting throughout their lives. But Jacob took things a bit too far. He stole his brother’s inheritance and his father’s blessing. Esau vowed to kill him. And so, Jacob had to flee.

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