In the Epistle of James, we are commanded to be “doers of the Word.”  In the gospel for Rogation Sunday, we are instructed by Christ, “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”  This is a problematic statement for if we ask for something in Christ’s name and then set about to be a doer for that which we asked, then are we actually trusting God to answer prayer or are we working in our own strength to bring about our answer?  And are we…

Throughout our lives we may have various encounters with art or nature that draw us away from ourselves to touch the transcendent and point us to God.  These sublime experiences last for minutes and yet leave us desiring more.  We wish that they could become a part of us – that we could somehow be united with them.  No doubt the disciples experienced this living day in and day out with Jesus Christ, God Incarnate.  As embodied creatures, they could not truly be united to the messiah.  Union with God could only happen when Christ returned to the Father and sent the Holy Spirit, who has taken up residence within…