On this Wednesday of Holy Week, I wonder how lonely Jesus felt? No one really gets what he's doing. But then Mary breaks the jar of costly perfume. She gets it somehow, and is promptly attacked by the others for her "foolishness". Today, we'll look at Mary's beautiful act, Taylor Leonhardt will sing a Mission House song, my friend Grace Andrews will read George Herbert, and Brian Brown will close us in prayer. Join us every night this week on "One Thousand Words".

The post S2:E17 – Holy Week: Wednesday, Mary does a beautiful thing appeared first on Matthew Clark.

On this Tuesday of Holy Week, I'm trying something different. I'm sharing a fictional imagining of Jesus as he camps outside Jerusalem, remembering the promises made to Abraham so long ago and how they are about to be fulfilled, finally in himself. I'll also share a song, Malcolm Guite will read a sonnet, and Brian Brown will close us in prayer. Join us every day this week as we walk our story together with Jesus.

The post S2:E16 – Holy Week: Tuesday, Remembering Abraham appeared first on Matthew Clark.

This Monday of Holy Week, we continue walking with Jesus to the cross. So far he's wept over Jerusalem, entered to short-lived praise, and now he makes his way to the City's broken heart, the Temple. I'll share a reflection and a song, Malcolm Guite will recite a sonnet, and Brian Brown of The Anselm Society will close us in prayer. Join us every day this week.

The post S2:E15 – Holy Week: Monday, Cleansing the Temple appeared first on Matthew Clark.

This is Palm Sunday. Our Story begins today with Jesus, having resolutely turned his face toward Jerusalem, entering that City to shouts of praise that he knows will quickly change to shouts of condemnation. But He knows exactly what he is doing; he has come to die. I'll read a passage from Frederick Buechner and sing a song, Malcolm Guite will read one of his sonnets, and Brian Brown will pray from the Book of Common Prayer to close.

Join me and my friends every evening this week for this special Holy Week series.

The post S2:E14 – Holy Week: Palm Sunday appeared first on Matthew Clark.

How do we learn to identify and desire goodness? What's something you love, and who taught to you love it? This week, I'm remembering my Grandmother Mal - her storytelling, her laughter, the things she taught me to notice and love. I'm giving thanks. On the other hand, I've also learned to love many things that aren't, in reality, good, and so I'm joining in an old prayer that the Lord would turn my affections towards reality in Christ.

The post S2:E13 – Whatever is Lovely appeared first on Matthew Clark.

Guest essayist Rachel Mosley shares about time with her family, facing death, crawfish boils, and finding oneself at a table set in love by those who've come before. And we'll close with a poem by contemporary African American poet Jacqueline Woodson called "lessons".

The post S2:E12 – The Cloud of Witnesses, Rachel Mosley appeared first on Matthew Clark.

When our fragility becomes uncomfortably apparent, what rises to the surface? Fear and anxiety certainly do, and for good reasons. But also, in times of weakness and need, a kind of tenderness rises that teaches us to move out of ourselves towards others in care. This week, I'm sharing an essay I wrote last Fall, and poet and fellow-podcaster Susan Mulder (susanmulder.com) reads her poem "What if?" for our closing benediction.

The post S2:E11 – Need is a gift appeared first on Matthew Clark.

I like feeling and appearing competent, having the know-how, looking like I know what I'm doing. But holding too tightly to those things, or expected them to generate real life often keeps me from trying new things and trusting in God's care for the childlike. This week, I'm experimenting with a fictional imagining of how Nicodemus may have felt as he wrestled with becoming a child of God.

The post S2:E10 – Being a beginner again appeared first on Matthew Clark.

Being a Patron is so much more than being a customer; it is partnering as a family member with God and our brothers and sisters in Christ to bring good things into the world. This week, guest essayist Tresta Payne, shares her passion for arts patronage as a way of being in ministry, along with some practical suggestions and a prayer that we would both "make good art, and make good art possible."

The post S2:E9 – Tresta Payne: Patronage – Making good art possible appeared first on Matthew Clark.

Songs can really be little welcoming habitats where souls gather to make contact with each other, themselves, and the Lord. This week, I'm sharing a live recording from a house concert last November of both the song and the story behind "Kumalo" from my album "Beautiful Secret Life". The video that goes with this will premier on my YouTube channel tonight at 7pm Central.

The post S2:E8 – Story and Song – “Kumalo” Live appeared first on Matthew Clark.