The Tao of Doubt

Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter: Acts 5:27-32 Psalm 118:14-29 Revelation 1:4-8 John 20:19-31 This sermon was preached at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church on Sunday April 11, 2010. After the grand drama of Holy Week and the glorious celebration of Easter, we might feel overwhelmed with church on this second Sunday of Easter. (It […]

A Palestinian Perspective on the Prodigal Son

Readings for the Fourth Sunday in Lent (Year C): Joshua 5:9-12 Psalm 32 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 This sermon was preached at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church on Sunday March 14, 2010. Last summer, I had the privilege of attending an international conference in Jerusalem, where I befriended several Palestinian Christians, shared Eucharist with […]

Transfiguration on Tamalpais

Readings for the Last Sunday after Epiphany: Exodus 34:29-35 Psalm 99 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 Luke 9:28-36 This sermon was preached at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church on Sunday February 14, 2010. About 1700 years ago, a Roman emperor imprisoned a kind-hearted priest for secretly conducting weddings for young Christian couples. The emperor felt that weddings limited […]

Christian Pilgrimage

A Christian pilgrimage is a journey to a particularly sacred space where Christians can discover the image of God within themselves, others and the world in new and refreshing ways. In unpacking this definition, we will encounter some ridiculous relics, some excessive ascetics, and some smelly pilgrimage sites. Pilgrimage as Journey Long before Thomas Guides, […]

Christmas with A Kempis

Chapter 25: Earnestness in Amending Our Lives or From Allah to Zarathustra, There is Nothing Better “[One] has no need to go beyond Jesus, for [one] will discover nothing better.” Allah, Buddha, Christ, Dao, Elohim…I was thinking about going through the whole alphabet naming more Ultimate Realities, but I got stuck on “F”. I thought […]

Advent with A Kempis XXIV

Chapter 24: Judgment and Punishment for Sins or The 5 P’s “The [one] who habitually exercises patience goes through a wholesome purgatory while still alive” I have a weakness for alliterations, especially when the letter “P” is involved. Inspired by the above quote from today’s chapter, I have gleaned 5 ‘Advent with A Kempis’ Lessons […]

XXIII Post Script

I just learned that death interrupted Brittany Murphy’s life on December 20th. My friends, whose apartment I’m house-sitting, have a DVD of one of her films: Girl, Interrupted. So I watched it. Ironically, Brittany plays a character whose tragic death acts as the catalyst for the protagonist’s transformation. The transformation was a movement out of […]

Advent with A Kempis XXIII

Chapter 23: Meditation on Death or Invitation to Deeper Life “Listen!…Always think of death!” As Christmas Day approaches, the chapters in Imitation of Christ seem to grow more and more dark and negative. Yesterday’s chapter was Reflections on Human Wretchedness, tomorrow’s chapter is Judgment and Punishment for Sins, and the last line of Chapter 25 […]

Advent with A Kempis XXII

Chapter 22: Reflection on Human Wretchedness “If you have eyes for heavenly things you will perceive that all temporal goods are mere trifles. They are unpredictable and highly troublesome because you can never possess them without some anxiety and apprehension.” I went shopping today, mostly to replace my housemates’ Wheat Thins that I scarfed down […]

Advent with A Kempis XXI

Chapter 21: Repentance of Heart “Humbly pray to the Lord for the spirit of repentance, and say with the Prophet: Feed me with the bread of tears and give me tears to drink in full measure.” I love how these pre-modern religious authors exegete Scripture. In the above quote, Kempis is referencing Psalm 80:5, in […]