Musings from the High Desert

St. Paul to the Corinthians a second time: All the promises of God find their "Yes" in Christ. Fr Gabriel explores this opening salvo from St. Paul, what it means given his background, and explores with particular interest the notes about being sealed in the Spirit as a proclaimer of the Gospel.

The so-called parable of the Wicked Vinedressers comes up each year in our lectionary and frequently we register its meaning, along allegorical lines. We're all familiar with that interpretation: the Owner is God, the Vineyard is Israel, and so forth. But what if we turn back to the notion that all of Christ's parables have to do with the Kingdom (or Ruling) of God. Let's take a look at this parable from that angle this week and see what news it has for us today.

Etymology is not theology, of course, but in some cases it really helps to sharpen our understanding of what is required of us, particularly with regard to behavior. In these two short verses from St. Paul, we receive a good deal of counsel on how to live out our Christian faith in the culture we inhabit.

This passage has a twist in it which we may not often recognize: the question the young man asks is the wrong question. As a responsible and faithful member of the covenant people he would or should have known that eternal life is the promise of God for his people. So Jesus turns the question over and responds to make the young man focus on this life.

This is St Paul's great chapter on the resurrection, but what we need to notice at the outset is that he is not claiming to make any of this up, but that it rests on the firm foundation of a tradition which he has passed on without addition, without subtraction, and without comment on the initial proclamation. The tradition is embedded in verses 3-6 which are definitely pre-Pauline and which Paul learned as the core of his Gospel (verses 1 and 2). This is of great importance to us!

We are familiar with this parable from Matthew 18; the point seems to be clear. But let's look at it again, first, within the context of the chapter, and then secondly, in relation to the whole concept of death and resurrection. Perhaps there is something new to be learned here this week.

Have you ever thought about that phrase "faith as a mustard seed"? Often we bypass passages like this because they are so cryptic. This week Fr. Gabriel Rochelle looks at the idea of faith in relation to healing and discipleship.

Every once in a while you look at a text that is as familiar "as the back of your hand," and then you notice something new. In this case it is nothing that is in the text. It's actually what is NOT in the text; namely, the note that this is a miracle, one of the "signs and wonders," as Apostle and Evangelist St. John would call it. Let's think together about the significance of the feeding of the 5000 being an ordinary rather than an extraordinary event.

This passage, Romans 15:1-7, comes as the conclusion to a long argument begun at the start of chapter 14, in which Paul considers how to treat those who, for one reason or another, are "weaker." (A better translation would be unable, in contrast those who are able). The passage is hard-hitting for the clear reason that we are not very gifted at support naturally; we need to submit ourselves to Christ's witness, sacrifice, and ministry in order to enable our own ministry.

Forgiveness and healing: do they go together, and how shall we understand their connection? That's the question posed by today's Gospel lesson. Furthermore, do these actions have continuity in the church of today?

In chapters 9-11 of Romans, Paul thinks about the relationship of Messianic and non-Messianic Jews. In chapter 10, he begins by talking about "zeal without knowledge." This is the stopper for this week. Fr. Gabriel Rochelle works with this principal passage and explains Paul's emphasis on the two ways: righteousness grounded in your own ideas, concepts, and behaviors versus righteousness grounded in the Gospel.

Classic passage that is at the heart of not only Paul's Gospel but certainly at the heart of the dominant force in American Christianity, Protestantism. Fr. Gabriel Rochelle looks in particular at the interesting construction in verse 17, what it implies, and how we might be responding to this passage in these troubled times.

Fr. Gabriel Rochelle focuses on the meaning and nature of Mammon and its meaning in our lives, particularly in our current time. Jesus calls us to focus on the Kingdom of God and the righteousness of God, but this is not beyond the edge of our own lives, history, or the world. This means to make choices in this life that are colored by our understanding of eternity.

Romans 5:1-11 is the core of Paul's Gospel. Fr. Gabriel Rochelle discusses the subtle differences between Paul's approach to the the Law and the approach of his age, along with the problems that we inherit from the overwhelming witness of Protestantism in our country.

Veering from his usual homiletical practice, Fr Gabriel reviews the life of St. Herman for us as we commemorate the Saints of North America this Sunday.