Jesus Archives - LiftUpYourHearts

What Light Breaks Open

I can still remember the first time somebody gave me salted fruit. I was visiting a plantation in Nicaragua, and the grower cut a fresh ripe pineapple in the field. He sliced it into these bright tantalizing spears, and my mouth was watering for the tang. I was just about to take the slice from his hand when … Read the rest

Apocalytic Hope

Proper 28C

“When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place… “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.”

These things must take place, but, um, remember… “do … Read the rest

Love Wins.

Proper 24C

“Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and … Read the rest

A Tenth of Gratitude

Proper 23

Ten lepers healed. Shout about that miracle from the rooftops. And—Trinity Cathedral Portland—your new rooftop is looking awfully good!

In an age of high quality—if not highly accessible—medicine, it’s easy for us to forget the disaster that was chronic illness in Jesus’ time. Specifically of leprosy, a label that might have described any number of painful and debilitating … Read the rest

Good Influencers!

Proper 22C

“We have done only what we ought to have done!” That’s reassuring… sort of. At least the slaves seem to have known what they were supposed to do. Those hapless disciples, on the other hand, made what sounds like a perfectly reasonable request for greater faith, and instead, they got a rather confusing parable. All I can say … Read the rest

Two of the Seven

Mark 15:33-39

When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, ‘Listen, he is calling for Elijah.’ And someone ran, … Read the rest

Law & Grace

March 26, 2025: Deuteronomy 4:1–2,5–9 Psalm 78:1–6 Matthew 5:17–19

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets,” said Jesus to the first-century equivalent of huddled masses yearning to breathe free. Rather like the European immigrants who passed by the Statue of Liberty on their way to Ellis Island, the Jewish people of Israel longed for … Read the rest

Amend, Amend, Amen

Lent 3C

“Why should it be wasting the soil?” asked the man with the unfruitful fig tree. I’m guessing he put himself in charge of DOGE, the Department of Gardening Efficiency. “If it’s not bearing fruit that I can see right now, cut that thing right down.”

The irony of this parable is that God is generally not that interested … Read the rest

Saint of Slavery & Freedom

Luke 6:27-38

In case you haven’t noticed, today is St. Patrick’s Day. Perhaps some of you are planning to go out for a not-very-Lenten Guinness later, or some cabbage and corned beef, or perhaps some are wearing green. Often your celebrants would be wearing green vestments: it’s the most common liturgical color in the church year, symbolizing growth. But today … Read the rest

The Miracle Between Us

Proper 25B

I’m both the daughter and the mother of physicists, so—even though I was never much of a scientist myself—I am fascinated with the intersection of scientific ideas and theology. I think that I share this interest with your priest, who has been kind enough to allow me to preach from her pulpit twice. Thank you, Mother Neli! Let … Read the rest