September 2, 2021

A baked chicken is one of the best culinary delights: easy, inexpensive, delicious, nutritious. (For all the vegan/vegetarians on the Almost Daily list, I grant you that a baked chicken is neither easy nor inexpensive for the chicken.) Just rub the bird with olive oil, apply a generous sprinkling of ground pepper and kosher salt, pop it in the oven for an hour and voila – dinner! A salad, some cous-cous, and a glass of pinot grigio and you are dining in the catbird seat.

Many people want to make religion complicated. And maybe religion is complicated, but the gospel couldn’t be any simpler or easier or cheaper. The prophet cries out, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” (Isaiah 55:1)

And talk about nutritious? Eat this bread and never be hungry again.

“Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.” (Proper 17 – BCP)