Preaching the Scriptures

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Luke 2:1-20 A Spark I’d like to begin tonight with a poem, by Scott Cairns, called Annunciation Deep within the clay, and O my people very deep within the wholly earthen compound of our kind arrives of one clear, star-illumined evening a spark igniting once again the tinder of our lately banked noetic fire. She burns but she is not consumed. The dew lights gently, suffusing the pure fleece. The wall comes down. And – do you feel the pulse? - we all become the kindled kindred of a king whose birth thereafter bears to all a bright nativity. [1] It changed everything, you see.   All of creation defined by a single moment, like the world spinning on the head of a pin.   Just one single human birth split time in two – and now it is before and after.   Just a birth: special, but nothing special.   Everyone has been born, made of the same stuff, all shaped of the same ancient clay.   The ange...

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Mark 9:2-9   Getting Glimpses There is something about this story that is so difficult to discuss – as if the light were still so bright, as to be unapproachable.   And like Peter, I find myself wanting more – more time, more detail, more ascribed meaning.   Because as it is it seems a surprisingly small event – especially given the magnitude. Jesus invited only three.   He had twelve disciples of course but nine were not there; he had other followers too – the ones who come and go as the story unfolds; they were not invited either.   And it would seem that were he concerned with making converts or winning disciples, this mountaintop experience that we call the Transfiguration, could be useful.   Certainly no such event would be wasted on such a small audience today – if not a public event at least an opportunity to self-promote on social media. But as it is, Jesus hikes up the mountain with just three of ...