The Rev. Noah Van Niel
March 30th, 2018
St. John the Evangelist
Good Friday (B)
For whom are you willing to die?
Apologies if that’s putting too fine a point on things, but this is a day of fine points. A day not for metaphor and allusion but for flesh and blood, skin and bone, nails and wood. It is a day of piercing directness: “For whom are you willing to die?” Continue reading
The Rev. Noah Van Niel
St. John the Evangelist
March 25th, 2018
Palm Sunday (B)
Some of the behavior I am least proud of in my life was done as part of a crowd. Heckling the 
opposing high school basketball team from the stands. Laughing at someone “not as cool” with a group of my friends. I look back at such moments not just with shame, but also with surprise at the person who was doing those things. Where did that cruelty come from? That’s not who I want to be. What was I doing? How could I have done it?
Some the behavior I’m most proud of in my life was done as part of a crowd. Marching for peace alongside mothers who had lost children to gun violence on Mother’s day. Standing with a bunch of strangers packing meals for the hungry. I look back with pride that I decided to participate as one of many who were standing for something I thought was right.
Crowds are funny like that. Continue reading