Opossum Screed: May 2019

Benefit of the Doubt

Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.

—John 20:25

Today’s gospel reading actually took place over the course of a week. The first part happened on the evening of Easter Sunday when Jesus appeared to the disciples, granted them his peace, and them transformed them—that is to say he breathed into them the Holy Spirit, and them changed their title from disciples to apostles. But Thomas wasn’t there at the time, and so he doubted what the others had told him.

And there are three things I want to point out here in Thomas’s defense. First

'God Forbid I Should Forget!'

This sermon is the second in a 2-part series, which began last Sunday (May 12, 2019)

I exhort the elders among you to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it—not for sordid gain but eagerly.

—1 Peter 5:1b-2

The sermon I’d originally written for last week for Good Shepherd Sunday was destined to be over 30 minutes long. I suppose I could’ve pared it down and just tossed half of it. But the image of the shepherd is so rich in meaning, that I decided I’d do a two-part series on it. Last week I talked about the different professions used in the Bible as metaphors for God. And I talked a bit about how the shepherd image in particular—before it ever referred to God—was

The medallion on the baptismal font of Pilgrim Christian Church of Chardon, Ohio (see above), with its eight-pointed cross and four simplified fleurs-de-lis,

The Lord is my Shepherd, aye, and he has two fine collie dogs—Goodness and Mercy. They shall see me safely home.

—anonymous Scottish minister

Enduring and Lost

This sermon is the first of a 2-part series.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

—John 10:11

When was the last time you spent any time with a shepherd? I mean quality time—not just chatting with a shepherd at a cocktail party. Probably not recently.

That’s because there just aren’t a whole lot of shepherds around these days… at least not in this part of the world. The same thing could be said of cobblers and blacksmiths and coopers. In the case of this latter list, we don’t actually talk about them much; and I don’t see many depictions of them in stained glass or bulletin covers or inspirational paintings. The image of the shepherd, on the

Today is the Fourth Sunday of Easter, traditionally known as Good Shepherd Sunday. In addition to a passage from John 10, we'll also say or sing the 23rd Psalm:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters;
he restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his Name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil—my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Redwood Trees

I didn't need to understand the hypostatic unity of the Trinity; I just needed to turn my life over to whoever came up with redwood trees.

✙ Anne Lamott

Where to Start

2000 peace cranes being sent by Pilgrim Christian Church to the mosques of Christchurch NZ

Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

—Romans 14:19

The 14th chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans is, I think, more about keeping peace than anything else. And the context is very interesting, because in other letters—perhaps even in other parts of this letter—Paul seems to stress Christian liberty, saying that Christians are no longer subject to the law. But here in this chapter, he might appear at first glance to back off a little bit. “Be careful with your liberty,” he seems to be saying, “so that you don’t offend a sister or brother for the sake of something that doesn’t matter in the end.”

He mentions two things in particular: One of them is whether one day of the week is better than others, or if they should all be thought of in the same way.

But Paul talks about the other thing even more than the days of the week, however, and that’s our diet. Believe it or not, vegetarianism was very common

Puebla, Mexico

🇲🇽 Contrary to what most Americans think they know, Cinco de Mayo isn't Mexican independence day. It is a commemoration of the Battle of Puebla when the Mexican army routed the French army in 1862. This was a tragic period in Mexican history when European

Today is Derby Day Number 145. Last year, I picked Justify, winner of the Triple Crown. This year I'm on board with longshot Code of Honor.

Win or lose, though, the Derby's as much about tradition as it about racing. And the state song is—in the eyes of Kentuckians, at least—the highlight of the day. For over 80 years, My Old Kentucky Home has been played by the marching band of my alma mater, the University of Louisville. Today will continue that venerable tradition, but The Star-Spangled Banner (the national