Increase in us true religion. Hear that phrase in the opening collect? It’s a catchy kind of phrase; it almost sounds like, “Give us that old time religion.” It’s a phrase that we can pay some attention to; there’s some depth to it. What is true religion? It’s been said in the Christian tradition that there is a perception that what Christianity is about is worshiping Jesus. And yet when we look at the scriptures, there’s no instance where Jesus ever said to anyone, “worship me…”

Have you ever wrestled with God? That’s what that first reading is about, from Genesis. Jacob as is described, wrestles with God. Jacob is about to encounter his brother Esau. He doesn’t have the best of relationships with Esau. He’s afraid of meeting Esau. He sends his family across the river, but he spends the night before crossing the river. And it is described that he goes through this wrestling experience. He struggles with God. And yet, during the struggle he doesn’t know who this is…

Happy 4th of July weekend as we gather. Some of you from the parish know where I’m from but those of you who are new may not know where I’m originally from; I’m from that colony up in the northeast called New York. I’ve realized there are actually a few of us here in the Cary area and others from that part of the country…

A couple of months ago I went through that ritual we all go through of completing our taxes, and I got to that second page where you sign it. Both my wife Mary and I signed our copies and then filled in that spot where it says “Occupation.” I always put down “Priest” and Mary puts down “Scientist.”…

Years ago when I was in college – at that time in my life I was considering a vocation to the priesthood – I remember that there was a priest on the faculty, and I got together with this priest and began an experience that is oftetimes referred to as spiritual direction…

John 9:1-41.
I’ve often said before, and I want to remind you of this to put this reading in context, and that’s this: when we read the scriptures, and we hear about the religious customs or traditions of its time, particularly Judaism, we’re not so much just reading about Judaism, but we’re really reading about all religion…

I’d like to share three things with you this morning: one from that reading from Genesis about Abraham, one from our Gospel reading about Nicodemus, and another experience I had on Ash Wednesday…

So you’re at the checkout line at Harris Teeter or Food Lion. There’s a person in front of you and all their stuff has gone through. It’s time to pay. The person takes out their piece of plastic and puts it through. It’s always a debit or credit, or pays cash and there’s some problem…

The Gospel reading this morning really invites me, engages me, more than any of these other readings. It reminds me of some things I’ve shared with you before about some of the stages that religion can go through. Some of this is from Richard Rohr. You may remember my mentioning him. I want to put this in some sort of context. It’s that reading where Jesus says, “You’ve heard it said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say…”

Have you ever heard the story of the rector who was preaching to the congregation on a Sunday, and it’s that time of the year that is stewardship, and a lot of the talk is about giving? The rector says to the congregation, “I have good news. We have all the money we need. We have all the money we need to do all that we need to do.” And the congregation looks a little puzzled. And the rector says, “But here’s the challenge: all the money is in your pockets…”