Rev. Jim Ryan, PhD — jimryan6885@gmail.com Co-pastor of Mary of Magdala, Apostle to the Apostles Community With no bird singing The mountain is yet more still. Zen saying All this “Stay at Home” time is driving me to take a Continue reading
Thoughts on 4th Sunday in Lent, March 22, 2020 by Rev. Jim Ryan, jimryan6885@gmail.com Let’s face it, this Gospel passage (John 9:1-41) is a wonderful story, a narrative worthy of Lent. Liturgists like it, especially when used in conjunction with Continue reading
The first Sunday of our virtual gathering in God’s corner known as Mary of Magdala, Apostle to the Apostles Community is upon us. This is our new normal at least through the next two Sundays. We need to keep laser Continue reading
Pandemic What if you thought of it as the Jews consider the Sabbath— the most sacred of times? Cease from travel. Cease from buying and selling. Give up, just for now, on trying to make the world different than it Continue reading
Thoughts on 2nd Sunday in Lent, March 8, 2020 by Rev. Jim Ryan, jimryan6885@gmail.com The final line of today’s Gospel is the directive of Jesus to Peter, James, and John who just experienced the Transfiguration of their new teacher. Jesus Continue reading
Thoughts on Ash Wednesday, February 26, 2020 by Rev. Jim Ryan, jimryan6885@gmail.com Homily delivered at the annual Ash Wednesday Eucharist celebrated jointly by the two communities, Wauwatosa Area United Methodist Church and Mary of Magdala, Apostle to the Apostles. At Continue reading
Thoughts on 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 16, 2020 by Rev. Jim Ryan, jimryan6885@gmail.com Last week I mentioned that one underlying purpose of Matthew’s Gospel is as a message to the Jews, particularly the ones who lived away from Continue reading
Thoughts on 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 9, 2020 by Rev. Jim Ryan, jimryan6885@gmail.com Few lines of scripture are more often used, misused, and even abused than the theme of the city on the hill, especially in the USA. Continue reading
Thoughts on Christian Unity Sunday, January 19, 2020 by Rev. Jim Ryan, jimryan6885@gmail.com This morning I would like to consider the case that we have arrived in the 21st century at the point that religion and the practice of religion Continue reading
Thoughts on the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus, January 12, 2020 by Rev. Jim Ryan, jimryan6885@gmail.com This feast of the Baptism of Jesus marks the end of the Season of Light (Christmas-Epiphany-Baptism of Jesus) and the liturgical transition to Continue reading