Rev. Bryan Travis Hooper
Matthew 21:23-32

I want to confess to you this morning that I am a sinner. I just think you should know that. I am not perfect and I am not particularly holy. I’m not convinced that all the things I have heard are sins actually are sins. And sometimes I wonder if the popular notion of sin is more harmful than helpful. But nevertheless, as I understand the term, I am certain that I am a sinner. (more…)

Rev. Bryan Travis Hooper
Matthew 20: 1-16

Today I want to greatly simplify the world for the purposes of illustration. It seems possible to imagine the world divided into two essentially opposite camps: the pessimists, who believe and expect the worst, and the optimists, who believe and expect the best. I have often associated with the pessimists, on the grounds that if one is sufficiently pessimistic, one is never disappointed. But in fact, pessimism is born of a perspective that sees only scarcity in the world. The pessimist is convinced that there isn’t enough, their isn’t enough resources, there isn’t enough time, there isn’t enough labor. The pessimist looks at the proverbial glass and perceives it as half empty, and begins to panic. The natural response to this world view is fear – fear that one will be on the losing side of the battle for resources. And the result is often violent, since violence not only allows you to have access to those limited resources, it also eliminates some of the competition. (more…)

It occurs to me that bats are good.

It’s important to say that I think.

Yes, I was a little freaked out by the bat in my house. Yes, I suppose I sometimes do wonder about vampires and all that…or at least rabies. Yes bats are spooky looking…

But I have since learned that bats are very good. As I noted before, they consume a lot of insects. Which makes them carnivores, I guess. But hey, insects are at least questionable critters. I mean, they can be pests. Doesn’t the word “pest” originally refer to insects?

All I’m getting at is that bats provide some balance in this world, and that’s important.

I’ve been listening a little to the Roberts Hearings on the radio and TV. I am reminded of my ignorance. I think I will place on my To Do list this week a nice slow reading of our Constitution. Just what does that bugger really say?

But I am fascinated about how much of the conversation around the Constitution sounds like the debates around Biblical interpretation. Should we interpret the Bible literally? Does the Bible have a clear intent that we should follow? Is our job as preachers to simply read the Bible and preach what we have read? What is the role of interpretation? The framers lived only a few hundred years ago. The Biblical authors lived millenniums ago in a distant land and culture. Does that affect our approach?

And of course, when discussing these things, I always come to another question: does anyone care? Has the church become some parochial that its conversations mean (literally) nothing to the rest of the world. Is it possible, that while Roberts and the Senate debate the methods of interpretation of the Constitution, everyone else is just wondering why on earth we failed so miserably to help the people caught in Katrina’s destruction? Is it possible, that while church leaders debate technical issues of Biblical interpretation, everyone else is just wondering why they can’t find a church that feels like home?

Of course, I’m still interested in those questions of interpretation. I just hope I don’t bore the world to death with my own curiosities.

Rev. Bryan Travis Hooper
Preached at the Harvest Festival of the North United Methodist Church, Hartford, CT

I want to thank you for inviting me here and for welcoming me to Hartford. It is quite a big change for me to be in Hartford, but the change has been made easier by the kindness and welcome I have received. I want to thank Hugh Hamilton – you have a great pastor here – I hope you know that. And I am so glad to be here in Hartford with Pastor Hamilton as my colleague. I look forward to our work together as we strive to serve the people of Hartford. (more…)

Rev. Bryan Travis Hooper
Matthew 18: 21-35

If you have ever had to forgive someone, you know that it is not easy. There are many reasons that forgiveness is so hard. One of the main reasons is that we have abused the word forgiveness. The idea of “forgiving” someone seems to imply for many a lack of accountability, that somehow when we forgive someone they are getting away with something. Forgiveness is perceived as weakness. (more…)

Rev. Bryan Travis Hooper
Matthew 18:15-20

Two months ago, before starting my appointment here, I was in New Orleans with my brother and father. We had a great time eating at restaurants and walking the historic streets of New Orleans. We walked the streets that are now under water. We talked with people who are now refugees. We road on streets that have now become rivers. We flew into and out of an airport that is now a hospital. (more…)