City Called Heaven

Each of the previous six Good Fridays, a procession of grief and hope has walked with Jesus to sites of violence in Jersey City, remembering how the Passion of Christ connects with our present-day reality. This year we regretfully and wisely do that remembrance at home. Of course, Jesus also remembers, and continues to walk with those who suffer. The first station . He is condemned to death. Eleven days ago, a beloved child of God was killed at Triangle Park. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? &nbsp&nbsp Psalm 22:1 The next station . He falls the first time. Five days ago, a beloved child of God was shot and killed on Ocean Avenue, between Bidwell and Bayview. O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest. &nbsp&nbsp Psalm 22:2 The next station . He falls the third time. Four days ago, a beloved child of God was shot and killed in the area of Mart...

Psalm 40 Sermon for the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany, Year A Today I'd like to focus on a couple of the things which are at the core of who we are as a Church. This psalm is rooted in testimony. The Lord heard my cry, he lifted me out of the mire, established me on solid ground, and gave me the gift of praise. There is a new and glorious song in my mouth. And I want to go tell it on the mountain, I want to tell everyone what God has done for me . Those two words - for me - are so important to our life of faith. For Martin Luther, finally hearing these words in scripture helped him overcome his fears of being unworthy, and believe that God was on his side. God's work and God's love are not an abstract concept of theology - "for me" brings them up close and personal. "For me" takes God's saving action out of the future and makes it immediate, present, here and now. God has been "gooder than good." God has acted on my behalf, delivering...

Each July 4th, Americans celebrate the 1776 declaration of independence from the colonial power of England. How good it is to loose the bonds of oppression, to gain freedom from powers which promote injustice and inflict harm, to find liberation from that which keeps us down. Not only tyrants, but illness, poverty, hunger, racism, pain, depression... whatever has us chained. Today is also a good day to remember and honor our DE-pendence, something we tend to view less favorably. But it is our reality. We depend on so many things that are good and right. We depend on those who do the work we cannot, who grow our food or fix our roads, or expand the frontiers of science or enliven the soul through the arts. We depend on just laws and equal rights. We depended upon our parents to bring us into the world. We depend on family and friends, teachers and mentors, on those who care for us when we cannot, and upon those who love us and those we love. And yes, we depend upon the love and ...

Memorial Day is designated to remember those who died while in the U.S. military services. It recognizes not just those killed in battle, but all those who gave (and lost) their lives: through illness, accident, suicide, or any other cause. Their profound gift and sacrifice to their nation deserves our honor and memory. There is not always a straight line between what the armed forces do and the liberty we treasure. But the willingness to put their lives in harm’s way makes those who serve in the military worthy of our gratitude and honor. For those who died while in uniform, there are no veterans’ benefits, no parades, no chance to live the lives they might have. To them we owe a debt we cannot pay. So let us give what we can. Care for those who survive them. Love of country and patriotic service to our shared ideals and our constitutional union – even when they may be a bit tattered. And let us never take their sacrifice for granted. Remembering today Capt. Charles U. Warni...

On the first day of the week, at early dawn, [who had come with Jesus from Galilee] came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. Luke 24:1-2 * It is remarkable that the Church makes so much out of nothing. You know, the women who loved Jesus, went to the tomb that morning with nothing but some burial spices to wrap his body, so it would stink less and rot slower. They had nothing. Their teacher, their friend, their good shepherd was dead. All they could do was go through the motions, do what custom required, honor his meaning in the life, and hope they could get past this, somehow move on. And then, even his body was gone. Any empty tomb. Nothing there. Nothing to see. Nothing left. Who could have imagined what God was doing behind the scenes? Who could have imagined what God was doing with nothing. Same as always. God has always been making something out of no...

Yesterday it was done. Finito. They laid him in the tomb and rolled a stone against the door. Today... nothing. The scriptures are silent. While the holy day of Pesach (Passover) and Sabbath take place, the story takes a rest. The rivers of lambs' blood from the Passover sacrifices have been washed down the mount. People have gone to their homes to observe the Passover Sabbath behind the safety of their doors. Jesus' disciples are in hiding, in shock, in disbelieving grief, some in fear and trembling, hoping that further retribution will pass over their doors. Probably the Roman soldiers are on alert for further disturbances, but keeping a low profile, expecting that with the holy day arrived and the latest messiah safely in his tomb, things will quiet down. But no one can be sure. I imagine the holy city taking a breath, waiting to see if things get back to normal. The sudden, violent death of a loved one throws the world into chaos. Any sense of safety and stability ...