Seeking Authentic Voice

A reflection for Maundy Thursday, reimaging the Gospel stories of the woman who anointed Jesus, in John she is named as Mary of Bethany, the other Gospels do not name her. I know what you think of me, even all these years later. Some of you know me as Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus. Yes. Jesus was our friend, my friend - and I was his friend. He knew me, the real me. Others do not remember my name and tell my story as if I were a nobody, some unnamed woman. One, a person named Luke, even said that I was sinful.  Whatever.  He never knew the real me, not like Jesus did. It’s true that I broke all the rules for women in my day. I sat at Jesus’ feet while he taught us about the love of God and how God speaks to us through scripture and through other people.   Even my sister Martha grew impatient with my love of learning. But Jesus never did. He encouraged it! It’s true, I had to make a living someway. And as a woman my options were l...

Reflections from Mary, the Mother of Jesus on the passion, adapted from the Gospel of Luke (Luke 22:14-23:56) Even now, I can’t help but remember those days. At the time I thought I would never forget one single, horrible moment, one thought, one feeling, one word.  But you know, it’s true, time does (mercifully) take the sharp razor’s edge from unbearable pain, makes it tolerable. But there are things I remember, moments that are burnt into my mind and my heart.  Mostly things about him, my beloved son, the child that came to his father and me as a gift from God and who through-out his life never did stop both mystifying and teaching me. But my feelings during those awful hours as he suffered and finally died? Yes, I still remember and can call it all back in a heartbeat…. My sense of unease had been building through those last few weeks; mother’s intuition sensed that all was not well. He had pushed the establishment, powerful people, too far. I wanted to pro...

Jan over at the RevGals offers this Friday Five: ....my husband and I are going to be in Washington State during his spring break (from teaching at a local community college). His parents have very recently moved into a senior living facility. We will be staying at their home, which will not have some of the furniture and supplies like we are used to. What I am dreading is no computer, tv or telephone, which also means no wifi connection. This is showing my dependence upon these technologies. For this Friday Five, let us explore our use of and desire for such items. 1. What types of technologies, like cell phones, computers, tvs, etc., do you routinely use? How frequently? I'm not fond of television, but I do have a few favorite programs I watch every week: The Good Wife, Grey's Anatomy, Elementary, SMASH, and NCIS/NCIS LA. I am plugged in most of the time - I check my email, Facebook page, and blog every morning and afternoon. Actually, I check email often, using ...

 A reflection on the readings for Lent 4C: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 In a small town where life has been the same for 100 years, a war is about to break out between the tranquility of tradition and the fear of change. A power struggle ensues between acts of compassion and hospitality and a fierce adherence to protocol.   The shock of something   new, the excitement of letting go of what have become meaningless rules for life, the dangers of denying people joy and the consequences of intolerance are aroused by a chocolatier’s delectable sweets in the movie CHOCOLAT. At the heart of the story in CHOCOLAT is a gypsy-like woman named Vianne born with special powers. Vianne arrives as a mysterious outsider to the French village of Lansquenet where she opens a chocolate shop featuring tantalizing candy and beverages that can, in addition to being delicious, cure lost hopes and awaken long deprived emotions. Vianne's effect, and the impact of her chocolate, is immediate an...