Reading Boccaccio’s Decameron in the Time of Corona John Mason Lock July 24, 2020 Books, Commentary, The Episcopal Church By John Mason Lock A friend recently posted on social media that he had gone to the bookstore, and they were out of Boccaccio's The Decameron. This admittedly English-major-type joke is that Boccaccio's clas... Read More...
Toni Morrison’s Beloved: A Retrospective Review and Contemporary Application John Mason Lock February 25, 2020 Books, Commentary, Contributors, Reviews & Culture, The Episcopal Church For Black History Month I have been revisiting the works of Toni Morrison, especially what is arguably her greatest novel, Beloved, a kind of literary reflection on the traumas of slavery.
Narcissism, Psychiatry, and Pastoral Care John Mason Lock February 13, 2020 Commentary, Contributors, Ministry, The Episcopal Church A growing number of younger clergy are looking to reclaim the theological heritage of the church, but we must also recognize that not all personal problems are theological problems.
Visiting Your Church Is Like Going to the Dentist John Mason Lock August 9, 2019 Commentary, Ministry, The Episcopal Church It's fairly obvious that people do not like going to the dentist or the doctor, and I suspect a large part of this reticence is due to the fear of shame and guilt, especially if there has been a longer period of time since the last visit.After my visit and reflecting on my own aversions to going to the dentist, I began to realize that this is how most people feel about going to church.
Are Children Theologians? John Mason Lock May 30, 2019 Catechesis, Commentary, The Episcopal Church We not only follow in the way of our parents, but we all share in the guilt and sin of humanity.
‘Honest to God’ and the Language of Death and Mourning John Mason Lock April 22, 2019 Liturgy The language of the prayer book acknowledges the pain and sadness of death. “Out of the deep have I cried unto thee. O Lord, hear my voice.”
Post-exilic Prophets and the Church Today John Mason Lock March 14, 2019 Commentary, Ministry, The Episcopal Church Serving as a rector in the increasingly secular Northeast, I often feel like I am working in an unstable religious context.
The Pastor and Sober Humility John Mason Lock December 14, 2018 Commentary, Ministry, The Episcopal Church A rediscovery of humility is in order, if pastors are to maintain the mental, emotional, and spiritual health that allows them to continue faithfully in the ministry.
