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  Saturday – 18 th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Matthew 17:14-20 What’s The Plan? Rainbow, Jordan River / Tennessee   Back when I was serving at SRB not only as a Deacon but also as Pastoral Associate, Ginger and I developed a set plan to start the day. One simple question!   What’s the plan?   A relatively simple question that helps us focus on the day – its schedule, its meetings and what we need to do!   Did we accomplish everything on our list?   Absolutely not!   But we had a good idea of what to expect and how to plan for it!   Yeah right!   Like that ever happens!   Emergencies happen!   The unexpected happens!   Count on it!   Even today, with our morning cup of coffee/tea, we ask the same question – what’s the plan!!!   If only LIFE was that simple!   If only we really knew how the day would really unfold!   And so on a daily basis, perhaps even hourly, we ask God the same question! ...
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  Friday – 18 th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Matthew16:24-28 Now Comes the Hard Part Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem Life is hard.   I don’t really need to tell you this.   Unless you’ve been living on a deserted island for the past 5 months, you already know that.   Brutal summer weather, high grocery and gas prices, unrest in the Ukraine and the Middle East, an abundance of friction and a lack of a common goal among our politicians!   We have all been there, wondering what’s next as we look for that light at the end of this long dark tunnel.   We sit with this dazed expression on our face wondering what’s next! The disciples must have experienced something like this; they have already had their share of being cast out of villages, banned from the Temple, ignored and laughed at for leaving their families to follow this itinerant preacher.   And then in today’s Gospel, Jesus tells them bluntly that things will get worse.   If you really want t...
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  Thursday – Feast of the Transfiguration Gospel – Matthew17:1-9 Climbing the Mountain Church of the Transfiguration, Mount Tabor   Back when I was in the seminary, the Blue Ridge Mountains were our backyard and climbing the mountain right behind the seminary was a rite of passage.   The goal was to head out immediately after breakfast, race to the base, climb the mountain, race back to the Seminary in time for dinner at 6pm.   It was a grueling test of fortitude but the few moments you had at the top surveying the surrounding countryside were incredibly fulfilling, much less awesome and peaceful. In the Old Testament, mountains are mentioned over 500 times. It was a place where you encountered the divine, where you were closer to God.   Mount Ararat – where Noah’s ark came to rest and God made first covenant.   Mt. Sinai where Moses met God, received Ten Commandments and his face shone white.   Mount of Olives where Jesus often went to pray. ...
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