They [the disciples] were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” (Mk 10:26) This deeply important question is asked in this week's Gospel. But there's a problem. What does it mean to be saved? There's a lot of opinions about who will be saved in our modern day but one through … Continue reading Who can be saved?
Blog
The Word and the words
This week's passage from Mark's Gospel frequently gets called "The Divorce Passage" and for good reason: as soon as we hear the word "divorce" in the passage we don't hear anything else! But that is an artifact of the way this passage has been misused to subjugate women and keep them in abusive marriage throughout … Continue reading The Word and the words
Jesus asks the hard questions, again
This week's gospel is tough. This is one of the ones that is really easy to brush off and ignore, but we do so to our own peril. It is the difficult passages of the Biblical text that we must engage with more seriously than the ones that are nice or (seemingly) easy to understand. … Continue reading Jesus asks the hard questions, again
Jesus and the Fourth Wall
In this week's Gospel (Mark 9:30-37) we get another dose of Jesus breaking the fourth wall. If you're not familiar with that phrase, it comes from media, particularly TV and movies in my experience, where the people inside the world of the show or movie look at the camera or make an aside that is … Continue reading Jesus and the Fourth Wall
Pick up your cross
As we travel through Mark's Gospel in the Lectionary this summer, we arrive, with eleven weeks until the First Sunday of Advent, at the beginning of the first climax of Mark's Gospel. The end of Chapter 8 and the beginning of Chapter 9 are in my mind the most fascinating and compelling parts of the … Continue reading Pick up your cross
Isn’t it ironic?
Irony is an undervalued virtue of the Gospel according to Mark. This Sunday's reading (Mark 7:24-37) is a prime example of irony in the Gospel of Mark, and is also - perhaps - the reading that should give us the most hope for humanity after the resurrection! So how is this ironic? Is it like … Continue reading Isn’t it ironic?
We’re Back!
After a long break, the reflections section of the St. A's website is back. It will continue to be a mix of me, Rob Coulston, the St. A's Campus Minister, and the students of St. A's. We may add a few new voices too! I hope you will come along and take some time for … Continue reading We’re Back!
Advent Appeal 2022
Dear Friends in Christ, As we come to the conclusion of this Advent season, I find myself filled with anticipation. Of course, there are the usual feelings of excitement as Christ comes among us again as the child of Nazareth, but I am also longing for the new semester and new year. We have just … Continue reading Advent Appeal 2022
Response to the Overturning of Roe v. Wade
St. Augustine's Chapel is in full support of safe, timely, affordable, and accessible abortion for all who want or require this valuable healthcare service. This statement is consistent with the statements of our denominational partners, the Episcopal Church (62nd General Convention, 1967) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (2nd Convention, 1991). If you would … Continue reading Response to the Overturning of Roe v. Wade
Give Thanks
Gratitude is the cornerstone of our Faith. From the earliest records in Genesis, through the sacrifices in the First and Second Temple, to Jesus sitting at table with his friends, and every service of Eucharist since (Eucharist literally means thanksgiving in Greek), we, as people of faith, have said "Thank you" to God. In this … Continue reading Give Thanks
