February 2 is the celebration of the purification of Mary after the birth of Jesus and his presentation at the Temple Luke 2:22-39. The passage also presents two prophetic statements, one from a man, Simeon, and one from a woman, Anna (although Anna’s specific words are not given, we are […]
Death
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Time is such an odd thing. It is, in a very real sense, relative and yet it is clearly measurable. I remember how long December 1-25 seemed to last when I was a child and yet today years go by so quickly I can hardly separate one Christmas or birthday […]
The Rev. Larry J. HoferSt. Andrew’s Episcopal ChurchState College, PAJanuary 4, 2013 Mack Brady Sermon We came here today to share our grief and sadness, to give thanks for the life of Mack Brady and to hear God’s word and receive the grace of the Eucharistic feast. I We […]
Elizabeth shared this daily email from the writings of Henri Nouwen that happens to be about parents who have lost a child. We have discussed this often and my view continues to be firm; we must live. If we collapse, if we “die” metaphorically if not literally, because of Mack’s […]
From last Sunday. As with most sermons, I wrote sparingly and then in the preaching the sermon expands, but I think this captures my primary thoughts. Proper 5, Year C, RCL 1 Kings 17:17-24 Luke 7:11-17 The Widows’ Sons – Why Not Mine? When I came back to services one […]
Today I was talking with a colleague about another tragic death of a young person. The runner collapsed and died during the Pittsburgh Marathon apparently with a “coronary artery abnormality.” No one was to blame for his death. He was born with this condition, although he was unaware of it. […]
The following is my sermon from this past Sunday. As you can see in the first paragraph, I am somewhat apologetic about the fact that I cannot read and reflect on our current readings without thinking of Mack and our loss. Then again, I realized that this is precisely what […]
Easter Day 2013 For the last three months this phrase has been running through my head, “We are of all people most to be pitied.” Certainly seems reasonable. In a space of a few short hours we lost our vibrant, healthy boy, just two weeks before his 9th birthday. Who […]
But the best one I can think of to explain what life is like surviving, “living beyond,” the death of our son. It is a bit like being forced to wear a pair of painful, ill-fitting shoes. They hurt like hell and make you limp, wince, and cry, but you […]
I don’t think I am still ready to write much of substance but I did notice that the most recent Coffee With Jesus was relevant and poignant even. Where is God in the real world? “I am deep in the sorrow.” So am I.