After the Silence When the high priest initially asks Jesus to answer the accusations against Him, Jesus remains silent.  In that silence, He beholds the fullness of the moment: Peter hovering in the ...  Read More

But he (Peter) said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same…But he (Peter) began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of w...  Read More

Peter Denies Jesus In preparation for (or reflection on) today's sermon from Mark 14:51-72, you may wish to listen to the musical score for the scene "Peter Denies Jesus" from the movie, The Passion o...  Read More

In the Silence In this week's passage from the gospel of Mark (14:53-72), Jesus appears before the Sanhedrin, the high priest, the chief priests, the elders, and teachers of the law.  Let's think back...  Read More

A Sonnet for St. Peter Malcolm Guite is a former priest and Chaplain of Girton College Cambridge.  He pens books and poetry and shares from his vast and interesting library.  He often writes for Rabbi...  Read More

Abandoned In preparation for the sermon (April 14), read the text of Mark 14:51-72 (ESV) and ask God to show you: What is important in this passage?  What is important to Peter? What is important to t...  Read More

Dead Asleep When we use the phrase "dead asleep" describing a deep slumber, we conjure the similarities between sleep and death - whether we realize it or not.  Poets and painters through the centurie...  Read More

Mountains and Valleys We quite frequently use mountain and valley language in Christianity - primarily because the Bible is chock full of literal and mountains (Mount Sinai, the Mount of Olives) and v...  Read More

And when he (Judas) came, he went up to him (Jesus) at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. And they laid hands on him (Jesus) and seized him (Jesus).  Mark 14:45-46 (ESV)I remember when I used ...  Read More

Stay With Me As you reflect on the text of Mark 14: 32-50, you may wish to listen to this prayer.  How does the tone and movement of the hymn reflect the scene in Gethsemane?  Stay with me.Remain here...  Read More

Agony in the Garden In reading over the passage for this week's sermon (Mark 14: 32-50), I was struck by how many details I often overlook because I am "familiar" with the story.  Knowing the story of...  Read More

Gethsemane This poem by Mary Oliver considers how the sleeping disciples, like Judas at the Last Supper, are integral to the story of Christ.  After reading the poem (perhaps more than once), Consider...  Read More