An Elder Pilgrim's Reflections

"In those days and at that time  I will cause a righteous Branch  to spring up for David;  and he shall execute  justice and righteousness in the land."  Jeremiah 33:15 I waited with hope in an emergency room on a Friday afternoon. The bandages for my dermatology surgery were coming loose and I felt needed attention. I checked into the emergency room and waited. I knew triage was how the system worked and that I was low on an emergency need. I waited for intake from the triage nurse, then for the room, then for the NP to examine the situation, then for the issue to be resolved, then for the discharge papers.  I knew from the moment I entered the emergency room that I would be taken care of, but not how long it would take. I waited with a blessed assurance. Jeremiah waited with hope, a tenacious hope, for a righteous Branch from the line of David. For Jeremiah, imprisoned by his own government for prophesying doom is bad enough, but it gets even worse. He's ...

Acadia NP trail marker "Then Pilate entered the headquarters again,  summoned Jesus, and asked him,  “Are you the King of the Jews?” John 18:33 In 1925, Pope Pius XI established a new liturgical tradition, the Feast of Christ the King. The Pope felt that the followers of Christ were being lured away by the growing secularism of the world. They were choosing to live in the “kingdom” of the world rather than in the reign of God. This scripture ( available here ) for the new liturgical tradition is the scene of Pilate before Jesus.  The scene is tense as Pilate tries navigating between understanding his empire and Jesus's kingdom. Look at two contrasts: On one hand: Pilate’s authority comes from the will of Caesar and is always tenuous. On the other: Jesus’ authority comes from doing the will of God, and is eternal. OR On one hand: Pilate’s rule brings terror, even in the midst of calm. On the other: Jesus’ rule brings peace, even in the midst of terror.  We live in a c...

“What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him,  “My teacher, let me see again. Go,” said Jesus,  “your faith has made you well.” Mark 10:51-52 I The Call   Blind Bartimaeus is sitting on the side of the road, cloak spread in front of him, begging.  He's lower social status and therefore powerlessness. He hears that Jesus of Nazareth is coming. Bartimaeus begins to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” He persists, even when people around him tell him to be quiet. Jesus calls him.  He springs up, throwing off his cloak, representing his his only possession providing warmth, sleep at night or, spreading out, collecting money.  Jesus asks, what do you want me to do for you? Bartimaeus says “My teacher, let me see again. Go,” said Jesus,  “Your faith has your faith has made you well” Bartimaeus' Faith. This is a story about Bartimaeus’s faith and his absolute conviction that Jesus, the Son of God, can and will rescue hi...

Carriage Road Acadia N.P. "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 My lifestyle . My lifestyle included hiking and walking outdoors. BSA 50 milers, Hudson Falls feeder canal path, carriage roads, National Park walks and trails. Faith Lifestyle. I think John Wesley would describe a faith lifestyle as one of holiness of mind with acts of mercy, fasting, prayer, Bible study, and attending to the sacraments. Micah's prophetic lifestyle. Micah's lifestyle begins when God has an dispute with God's people and chooses Micah's prophetic voice. God calls the mountains, hills, and earth’s foundations to hear the debate. God recites the magnificent gifts provided as a brief salvation history with God as liberator, savior, and provider. God then says, “What exactly have I done wrong? I am constantly saving you so you always remember my righteous deeds.”  Th...

"Then the Lord answered Job  out of the whirlwind: 'Who is this that darkens counsel  by words without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man,  I will question you,  and you shall declare to me.'"  Job 38:1-2 I love a reading a good mystery by authors such as Martin Walker, Louise Penny, and Tana French.  Each of their stories follow a pattern. There is a crime, a cast of characters, and a solution to the crime. Life  can be like that.  A tragedy occurs, a cast of characters surrounds the victim offering comfort, and a resolution appears. Sometimes, though, there doesn't seem to be a conclusion and we ask ourselves, "Where are you God?" When Bad Things Happen to Good People is a book by rabbi Harold Kushner whose son, Aaron, who died at the age of 14 of the incurable genetic disease progeria. Rabbi Kushner asks the question most of us would ask during a tragedy, "Where are you God?" That's what the Book of Job is about: tragedy, characte...