The parable of the Prodigal Sons relies on a disconnect between both sons and the father — they believe they can live outside the family.

The unity that lives behind our broken vision
Lent 4C  |  Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

text and more: https://drewdowns.net/2025/03/30/graceful-the-unity-that-lives-behind-our-broken-vision/

Graceful (Lent4C)

We may be tempted to hear Judas’s suggestion of selling the nard and giving the money away as a reasonable response — we shouldn’t.

What should we care about?
Lent 5C  | John 12:1-8

text and more: https://drewdowns.net/2025/04/06/the-money-distraction/

The money distraction (Lent 5C)

The story of the Last Supper, of gathering and teaching and eating and washing feet, is about our pain and fear of intimacy.

Receiving love from a vulnerable Jesus
Maundy Thursday  |  Luke 22:7-38, John 13:1-17, 31b-35

text and more: https://drewdowns.net/2025/04/17/the-pain-of-intimacy-receiving-love-from-a-vulnerable-jesus/

The pain of intimacy (Maundy Thursday)

The Passion of Jesus is a story of torture and abuse, which is never easy to face. But we must if we want to face our own challenges.

How the Passion reminds us of our purpose
Good Friday  |  John 19:1-42

text and more: https://drewdowns.net/2025/04/18/remember-how-the-passion-reminds-us-of-our-purpose/

Remember (Good Friday)

In gathering at night for the Great Vigil of Easter, we are able to embody the remembering of Holy Week with love and gratitude.

Remembering the daily grace of God
The Great Vigil of Easter  |  Luke 24:1-12

text and more: https://drewdowns.net/2025/04/19/the-greatest-gift-remembering-the-daily-grace-of-god/

The greatest gift (Great Vigil of Easter)

There is something wonderfully humorous in the resurrection story, which reveals so much about what life itself is really about.

humor and the resurrection
Easter  |  John 20:1-18

text and more: https://drewdowns.net/2025/04/20/another-word-for-joke-humor-and-the-resurrection/

Another Word for Joke (Easter)

In the first resurrection story in John, we explore the fear of the disciples and how they separate themselves from their own mission.

Finding joy in life by sharing peace
Easter 2C  |  John 20:19-31

text and more: https://drewdowns.net/2025/04/27/living-beyond-fear-finding-joy-in-life-by-sharing-peace/

Living beyond fear (Easter 2C)

When the disciples run into Jesus, Peter acts like a fool, jumping into the water. Peter is the way into that feeling, to examine ourselves.

Intimacy, love, and discipleship
Easter 3C  |  John 21:1-19

text and more: https://drewdowns.net/2025/05/04/too-close-to-jesus-intimacy-love-and-discipleship/

Too close to Jesus? (Easter 3C)

This week’s gospel wrestles with authority and identity in faith and politics, and thankfully, in Jesus, we have both teacher and messiah.

On faith, love, and mixed identities
Easter 4C  |  John 10:22-30

text and more: https://drewdowns.net/2025/05/11/the-christians/

The Christians (Easter 4C)

Returning to the Last Supper, to the scene of great anxiety and fear, Jesus delivers a message of love when they are tempted to hate.

The will and practice of being more like Jesus
Easter 5C  |  John 13:31-35

text and more https://drewdowns.net/2025/05/18/loving-people-the-practice-of-being-more-like-jesus/

Loving People (Easter 5C)

Drew is an Episcopal priest and blogger living in Western Indiana who is obsessed with building up a vibrant and authentic church and 90’s era dreampop. He is the rector of St. Stephen's in Terre Haute, Indiana. While working on an MFA at Emerson College, Drew was called to a new ministry that transcends both decaying structures and 50’s era ugliness. His blog is about seeking an authentic faith that is expressive, worshipful, artistic, and transformative.

The money distraction (Lent 5C)

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