Trinity Sunday (Year C, RCL)

In Psalm 8, humankind is crowned in glory and honor, loved and valued.

Trusting in God’s transcendence means acknowledging God’s otherness.

We are often told that “negative” emotions are to be ejected, tossed aside, and forgotten as quickly as possible.

We are not the first to face complex global crises and wonder, “How can we possibly come back from this?”

Early-20th-century European and North American missionaries grew concerned about it—but never in their own churches.

When we read scripture backward

Paul encourages his readers to trust an outcome they cannot yet see.

To know any truth about God, we must be drawn into the life of the Trinity. But how?

Growing up, I never heard a word about God laughing, joking, or doing anything for fun.

Our behavior doesn’t change the claim Jesus makes on us.

Hans Boersma sees scripture as more open to imaginative reading than our modern methods permit. The key is faith in Christ.

Wishes are about what we want. Hope is about what God wants.

The Gospel of John addresses a community facing trouble because of its faith in Jesus. Its original readers needed to hear a message of affirmation. No wonder Jesus says "I will not leave you orphaned" and promises the disciples peace.

When we are overwhelmed by our daily struggles, when we get weary because of the dehumanization that results from hatred and greed, Proverbs 8 and Psalm 8 remind us how God conceives of us as human beings crowned with glory and honor.

Last month, both the scientifically minded and the scientifically challenged paused to contemplate the far reaches of the cosmos.

Scripture doesn't just shape the life of the community of faith. It also has a powerful effect on the lives of those who maintain distance from traditional religion, even those who explicitly deny religious faith.