Bard & Bible

Tale #68 – Something Greater

We have now entered into the space of the Sermon on the Mount that I refer to as the “you have heard it saids.” This is, well, due to the fact that each item listed therein starts with “you have heard it said” or some derivation thereof. I do so love it when the authors give us verbal queues for structure. I’ve heard countless sermons taking these verses (Matthew 5:13-48) and pointing to them as a testimony to the depth of sin and how depraved we are without Christ. While that’s not wholly inaccurate, that’s not what this is here for. Remember that the sermon is about the truth about the kingdom of God and Christ as king. This is Jesus looking at those who were supposed to lead the people of God in godly living as a chosen people and calling out how they demonstrated their OWN holiness in what they did and did not do. That when we try to celebrate our own devotion and closeness to God by our actions, that we are missing the point. We’ve heard it said that we need to live godly lives — but when we just talk about the things we do and don’t do as opposed to those folks over there, these passages point out that we will be weighed, measured, and found wanting.

Tale #67 – Kingdom Logic

When He sat on the mount in Matthew 5, there were probably some folks who thought it was time to oust Rome and bring in a new kingdom free from their oppressors — but that’s not what the kingdom was about. Today, while we have those who would tell you that Christianity is under attack and that we cannot rely on mercy, forgiveness, and empathy to demonstrate the love that Christ has for us — that we must fear reprisal and being undermined because we need to protect the glory of God — that’s not what this kingdom is about either. Let us look at the beatitudes, and the sermon on the mount as a whole, and realize that it is only when we understand how little control we have, how little we bring to the table, and how desperately we need God — then and only then do we get to see what the Kingdom of God looks like, both in the temporal and eternal sense.

Tale #66 — Inhospitable

Y’all had the chance to go somewhere else. I took to social media and asked if folks wanted me to move on from this journey through Genesis story by story. I thought maybe we’d have lost the plot while I was away. But the call rang out that we are still here … so let’s talk about Sodom and Gomorrah. There is a LOT to talk about here — and that’s just talking about Lot’s literal part, let alone everything else going on here. And yet, if there is nothing else we get out of our time together in this chapter, let us understand a few things. 1)That we most definitely can bring our biases to bear when interpreting Scripture, and that it is important to view each story in its context within its book, testament, and as part of the Bible as a whole to begin seeing things correctly. 2) That it is easier to talk about sins in somebody else’s life that do not and may never be part of ours than it is to deal with the ones that most definitely can and are a part of ours. and finally, 3) That we are called to love God and love others — for in these is summarized the whole of the law. So let us walk with compassion and a depth of kindness with others as we all seek to draw that much closer to God together.

Tale #65 – Shadows and Pain

Once again we find ourselves in an episode traveling between the worlds — but the Keeper stayed home this time. Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce Montgomery Chanticleer — “Uncle Monty” to his constituents. Purveyor of the Shadow Market. They can offer you miraculous things, but they do not trade in currency. They take time, memories, and existential joys innumerable. They say you find yourself in the Shadow Market when you are desperate enough. And after a hospitalization counted in months …. apparently the market itself can cross the veil.

Triptych Re-Release

Four years ago the world was going through a pandemic that would have long lasting effects that went far beyond the physical tragedies. During that time, we explored the reactions of three characters that played major roles in the Easter story beyond Jesus and outside of the glorious story of Resurre4ction Sunday. The story of a Mary, a mother dealing with the loss of her child that she loved and raised for decades. Of Simon Peter, a disciple who Jesus loved dearly who gave up everything only to watch his brother and king die a grisly death. And a story of Thomas, the disciple who refused to allow himself to hope in Christ’s resurrection until it could not be proven to be anything else. These are not your typical Easter stories, but they are all part of the human story that playing out in the unnaturally beautiful story of what Christ has done and is doing in the world. Originally aired in April of 2020 as three separate episodes, we have edited them into one episode to be experienced again this Holy Week.