Christianity/Theology

Marginalia Weekly Round-Up | September 21–24, 2026

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This week’s Marginalia keeps circling a question of presence: where God is found when comfort fails, when grace appears in another person’s face, when salvation comes by hidden means, and when what looks like abundance turns out to be a lack.

When God Is Your Existential Anchor—and Your Enemy | Job 16.6-9
What if the thing we need in suffering is not an explanation—or even “comfort”—but presence?

Seeing the Face of God in Another | Genesis 33.10
Jacob’s reunion with Esau offers a startling place to glimpse the face and presence of God.

The God Who Hides Himself | Isaiah 45.15
Sometimes the hiddenness of God is bound up with the strange and unexpected means by which salvation arrives.

When Abundance Is Actually a Lack | Mark 10.21-22
Jesus looks with love at a man who has much—and names the one thing he lacks.

From the Margins

History, Theology, & Wrestling with God | Genesis 32.24-32 — The chapter immediately before this week’s Genesis note also turns on seeing God “face to face.” Read together, the two Marginalia put Jacob’s encounter with God beside his encounter with Esau in a fascinating way.

Elsewhere in the Archive

My Sermon on Judgment, Poverty, Sheep, & Goats — Thursday’s Mark note finds Jesus confronting a wealthy man with what his possessions may be keeping him from. This older sermon turns to Matthew 25, where Jesus identifies himself with the hungry, the stranger, the naked, and the imprisoned—another unsettling Gospel meditation on what our relationship to material abundance reveals.

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When Abundance Is Actually a Lack | Mark 10.21-22

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“Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing…’ When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.”
—Mark 10:21-22

I love the word play here. First off, the text makes it clear [unclear transcription] that these words are harsh. But, the text tries to assure us that even if these seemingly hard, impossible, graceless words actually come from a place of love from within Jesus. Also, I love how he calls this young man’s wealth a lack. The things we have can actually be a void to our souls and our humanity. And so, the implication is that by giving things away he receives a fullness. He gains something. A lack is turned into an abundance as his abundance is turned into something that is lacking.

For more on possessions, scarcity, and the economy of God’s abundance, read: A Brief Theology of Stewardship.

More: Marginalia on Mark · Browse all Marginalia · Browse by Bible book

The God Who Hides Himself | Isaiah 45.15

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“Truly, you are a God who hides himself,
    O God of Israel, the Savior.”
—Isaiah 45:15

You truly are a God who hides himself, Lord. But it’s interesting that this statement which speaks so much to me right now in a mystical, spiritual way, originally seems to have been referring to the mysterious and hidden means by which you save your people. That salvation comes through hidden things and unexpected things and not in the ways we expect, or even want. I really don’t like this, frankly. But it seems your people have had an issue with it well before me.

For more on Cyrus and God’s unexpected means of redemption in Isaiah 45, read: The Sweet Taste of Sovereign Suffering.

More: Marginalia on Isaiah · Browse all Marginalia · Browse by Bible book

Seeing the Face of God in Another | Genesis 33.10

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“Jacob said, ‘No, please; if I find favor with you, then accept my present from my hand, for truly to see your face is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me with such favor.’”
—Genesis 33:10

Showing favor to one another is like seeing God among us and with us. A gracious and generous countenance is God’s presence about us. One way God can facilitate reconciliation between even enemies is simply by the look on someone’s face. Even as infants, we know that the most important things we long to know about how someone feels about us is communicated by their face and nonverbal cues. Anyone that’s been in a country where they don’t speak the language knows this is also the case. We are such a word-based culture, and yet even here, God simply appears in the face of a perceived enemy.

And on one other small practical note: this demonstrates how the first moments of receiving someone or greeting someone sets so much of the tone for everything else that follows. So consider the first words you say to people when you wake up or when you walk into the office or when you pick your child up from school. How we initially receive people is so important for them getting their bearings and knowing who they are to you. Because in it, they might see the face of God.

More: Marginalia on Genesis · Browse all Marginalia · Browse by Bible book

When God Is Your Anchor…and Enemy | Job 16.6-9

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“If I speak, my pain is not assuaged,
    and if I refrain, how much of it leaves me?
Surely now God has worn me out;
    he has made desolate all my company.
And he has shriveled me up,
    which is a witness against me;
my leanness has risen up against me,
    and it testifies to my face.
He has torn me in his wrath and hated me;
    he has gnashed his teeth at me;
    my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.”
—Job 16:6-9

When your existential anchor is your enemy, no words comfort, yours or anyone else’s. And maybe that’s one of the points here: “comfort” is not what we need or seek or offer in these moments. Perhaps it’s simply presence.

For more on comfort as presence within suffering, read: The Suffering of The Holy Spirit.

More: Marginalia on Job · Browse all Marginalia · Browse by Bible book

St. Michael’s Vigil | a Michaelmas Espresso Martini

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Recipe

  • 1.5 oz Espresso (or Cold Brew concentrate)
  • 1 oz Cognac
  • 1 oz Blackberry Liqueur (or Raspberry)
  • .25 oz Coffee Liqueuer
  • .25-.5 oz Green Chartreuse to taste
  • Optional dash of salt
  • Garnish: blackberry

Shake with ice until well chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass. Garnish with the blackberry.

* * * *

September 29 is Michaelmas, the great feast of St. Michael the Archangel, now shared with Gabriel and Raphael. Once a major holy day in medieval Europe, Michaelmas was marked by parades, fairs, and feasting. An old Irish legend tells us that when Michael cast Satan from heaven, the devil landed in a blackberry bush, spat upon it, and soured its fruit. This led many people to eat blackberries on Michaelmas, but not after.

Michael himself is remembered as the protector of the Church, the one who drives back the powers of evil and bears the banner of heaven. He is the the governor of heaven — the holy counterpoint to Lucifer, the self-styled ruler of hell. And as befits a warrior feast day, we drink to those who fight for us and we strengthen ourselves for the spiritual fight ahead!

So why an espresso martini? Because this day is about wakefulness and vigilance. Michaelmas arrives as the nights grow longer, and it calls us to be alert: watchful against darkness, strengthened for the battles of the spirit. Espresso jolts us awake, both in body and in soul, a reminder that “the Church militant” does not sleep on its watch.

The cognac anchors the drink with warmth and gravity, evoking the dignity of heaven’s general. The blackberry liqueur brings both sweetness and bite, a nod to the old legend of the cursed bramble. The coffee liqueur evokes purgation and penitence. The green Chartreuse, the herbal elixir made by monks, brings angelic mystery to mind; it’s the holy herb garden of heaven condensed into liquid. Finally, the garnish: a blackberry skewered on a pick, recalling the sword of St. Michael.

Altogether, it’s dark and strong, sweet and energizing — exactly what a feast of archangels deserves. This is no gentle nightcap; it’s a drink for vigilance, courage, and joy in the triumph of light over darkness.

Raise your glass this Michaelmas—and do it before the blackberries turn sour.

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How do you know you’re salty? | Luke 14.34-35

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“Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is useful neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; they throw it away. If you have ears to hear, then hear!”
—Luke 14:34-35

I fully understand that this can be taken too far, but how could salt know if it has lost its saltiness? I would contend that the salt itself cannot determine its own saltiness in any other way than seeing its effects on the world around it.

In other words, I wonder if how the world views us in regards to the effects we have in the world are a better indicator of our “saltiness” than our own perception of how faithful to a system of the doctrines we are. If you have ears to hear, then hear!

See other Marginalia here. Read more about the series here.

Negroni Joven | for Ordinary Time

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Recipe

All you need is 1/2 oz of each of the following:

  • Tequila Blanco
  • Tequila Reposado
  • Tequila Añejo
  • Campari
  • Amaro Averna
  • Sweet Vermouth
  • Dry Vermouth
  • Garnish: A lime twist & your favorite Summer read

Instructions: Stir with ice and serve over a large cube. Express the oils from a Lime peel over the drink and drop it in.

* * * *

Ordinary Time is the Church’s longest season, and also its quietest, most mundane. But that’s the secret of it: this is where most of life happens.  Ordinary Time (and the Church Calendar itself) is cyclical, but not static. It’s like a helix, looping back through the same motions, but always a little higher, a little deeper, than before. In fact, it’s name doesn’t mean “plain”, but comes from the word ordinal because it counts time from Pentecost.

The Negroni Joven (pronounced HO-ven) is about this sort of time. It’s named after joven tequila, a blend of aged and unaged tequila, which is exactly what Ordinary Time is for us. It’s new each year, and yet the benefits accumulate over time. So there grows a depth and richness, even in the midst of the newness, adding layers of complexity.

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Family Reunion | A Pentecost Negroni

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Recipe

  • ½ oz Rye Whiskey (USA)
  • ½ oz Tequila Blanco (Mexico)
  • 1 oz Suze (French Amaro)
  • ½ oz Carpano Antica (Italian Sweet Vermouth)
  • ½ oz Ruby Port (Portugal)
  • ¼ oz Islay Scotch (Scotland – floated on top)
  • Flamed Orange Peel Garnish

Stir all ingredients except the Scotch with ice and strain into a rocks glass over a large cube. Gently float the Islay Scotch over the top by pouring it over the back of a spoon. Flame an orange peel over the glass, express its oils, and drop it in.

* * * *

Happy Birthday, Church! It is now Pentecost, the day that God’s own Spirit filled God’s own people, crossing language, boundaries, cultures, and nationalities to create one new united family. In the tongues of fire and language, God reversed the story of the Tower of Babel.

That’s the heart of this Negroni, Family Reunion. It’s built from spirits scattered across the world: American rye, Mexican tequila, French Suze, Italian vermouth, Portuguese port, and a smoky Scotch from the far edge of Scotland. It’s a drink that doesn’t pretend the differences aren’t there but lets them all sit in the glass together. Each part keeps its accent, but together they have an incredibly unity.

The drink itself leans earthy and complex. The rye brings structure, the tequila adds depth, and the Suze’s golden gentian bitterness contributes an interesting mid-note to the flavors. The Carpano Antica and the Ruby Port round it out with deep, red sweetness, like the shared wine of communion: one cup, many vineyards. Lastly, the Islay Scotch float and the flamed orange peel garnish image the tongues of fire hovering over those first Christians.

This drink is Pentecost in miniature. But this is not a quick or delicate Negroni. It’s heavier, slower, more reflective. The kind of drink that doesn’t mind being passed around, that tastes different each time you come back to it. It’s the flavor of the Church at her best — many voices, one Spirit, the family gathered again around the same table drinking from the Common Cup of God’s grace.

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The Alleluia Negroni | For Easter

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Recipe

  • 1 oz Barrel-Aged Gin
  • 1 oz Suze Amaro
  • 1 oz Dolin Blanc (or other white, sweet vermouth such as Lillet Blanc or Cocchi Americano)
  • Top with Seltzer or Tonic
  • Garnish with lemon twist

Stir the gin, Suze, and vermouth with ice until chilled. Strain into a glass with fresh ice. Top with your sparkling of choice. Express the oil of a lemon peel over it all and garnish with the peel.

* * * *

It’s Easter! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

The Church’s highest feast is one of joy, celebration, and abundance. This season isn’t content with a muted sip; it needs something golden, bright, and effervescent. The Easter Negroni takes the classic trinity of spirit, amaro, and vermouth and transfigures it into something new—bubbling with life, radiant in hue, and rich with meaning.

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Felix Culpa (Fortunate Fall) | A Lent Negroni

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Recipe

  • 1 oz Mezcal
  • 1.25 oz Spiced Apple Wine (or 1 oz rich Sweet Vermouth)
  • .75 oz Cardamoro
  • Garnish: Apple Slice and Smoked Rosemary

Add all spirits to a mixing glass. Stir with ice until chilled and diluted. Strain over fresh ice. Add apple slice and light the end of a sprig of rosemary on fire. Put out the flame and let it smoke.

* * * *

Lent begins in ashes, but it doesn’t end there. It moves through wilderness, temptation, and sorrow—not to leave us in dust, but to lead us toward resurrection. Lent reminds us of a bittersweet truth: that our sinfulness is a necessary ingredient for our redemption.​

The ancient theologians called it felix culpa—”fortunate fall”—the idea that humanity’s fall led to a greater good: the coming of Christ and the outpouring of grace. In other words, it is better to have been lost and found than to never have been lost at all. In other other words: “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

As the Exsultet proclaims in the Easter Vigil: “O happy fall that earned for us so great, so glorious a Redeemer.”​

So let us raise a glass to this wonderful mystery with this Lenten Negroni. It brings together the sweetness of Eden, the smoke of exile, and the herbal bitterness of toil and grace.

The first sip greets you with the smoky depth and vegetal complexity of mezcal, reminiscent of the Garden and darkness of sin. The spiced apple wine and garnish call to mind that original temptation, now made sweet by Christ. Grounding the drink is Cardamaro, bringing an earthy bitterness evoking images of thorns, toil, and grace. Lastly, the flaming rosemary symbolizes both the flaming sword preventing re-entry to Eden and holy incense granting us entry into the presence of God.

This is a complex, surprisingly light drink with lots of layers if you let yourself sit with it. May it serve as a sensory reflection on the journey from fall to redemption, reminding us that even in our brokenness, grace abounds.

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The Epiphany Espresso Martini

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Recipe

  • 1.5 oz Rye Whiskey
  • 1 oz Espresso or Cold Brew Concentrate
  • .5 oz Molasses
  • .25 oz Dry or Blanc Vermouth
  • 2 dashes Chocolate Bitters
  • barspoon Fernet Branca
  • Lemon Peel for expression and garnish

Add all ingredients except lemon peel to shaker and shake until well chilled. Double strain into a coupe. Express Lemon Peel oil over top and garnish with the peel cut into a cross.

* * * *

The Western Church is currently in the last days of the Church season of Epiphany, which is kind of a beautiful junk drawer of a season.

Advent/Christmas cover Jesus’ anticipation and birth, and Lent/Easter cover his death and resurrection. Epiphany covers everything in between. It starts with the Wise Men visiting Jesus (they weren’t at the manger!) and covers his ministry of justice. The key motif is light breaking through the darkness, waking us from our stupor, and preparing us for the repentance of Lent.

So if we want a cocktail that’s going to wake us up and mess us up, there’s none better than this espresso martini riff.

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Proof of God? Wilderness & Return | Exodus 3.11-12

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So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” He said, “I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.”
—Exodus 3.10-12

So…what’s God’s proof that He is with Moses and He is the one behind all this?

Not the mystical voice from the fire.
Not the miracles nor plagues.

Moses will know that God is real and he is the one that did all this only after deliverance and wilderness, having returned to where he started, utterly transformed.

Ain’t that the truth?

See other Marginalia here. Read more about the series here.

A Moment (A Posthumous Guest Prose Piece)

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NOTE: This post is by Austin Ricketts, a dear friend and contributor to this site who passed away in August 2024. I later found unpublished drafts he wrote for this blog. With his wife‘s permission, I will occasionally post these items with the caveat that Austin’s mind and craft were always evolving, so these posthumous posts represent a snapshot in time and not necessarily the final form Austin would have wanted. But still, they allow us a chance to spend just a little more time with the man we loved and miss each day.
This piece is from March 10, 2009
___________

[A Gilead-inspired short prose piece]

Today you awoke, and it was finally Autumn. Actually, it’s not that today is the first day of the Fall, but it’s the first day that you realized it. There you were at the Railway Station, surveying the huddled masses, nervously tapping each of your pockets. You were assuring yourself that all was in its right place. Then, the whistle. The train is coming.

The breeze picks up as the train nears, fronted by a Zephyr-like standard bearer. The gust begins to tug at your skirt, but your legs aren’t cold. The wooden platform rumbles, feeling like the deck of a ship at high seas as it moves with the coming cavalcade.

The Engineer is visible. There is the steam. The Engineer is invisible. The whistle, the whistle, three times the whistle blows. Smack!

Your book fell. You recover it from the linoleum floor. And what is that screaming noise? You look up. It is the birth pangs of tea, steaming and salient on your stove. You throw the blanket off of your legs, and onto the arm rest of your chair.

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For All Saints’ Day: Our Son’s Baptism (And Yours)

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Today is All Saints’ Day–when Christians remember the saints that came before us. It’s a perfect day to celebrate our son’s entry into visible membership into God’s family through the sacrament of baptism! You can watch it in the video above.

I wasn’t raised witnessing or agreeing with infant baptism. I grew up as a Bible Belt Southern Baptist (and pretty much all my relatives continue in that tradition). As a child, infant baptism was seen as a strange Catholic thing that went against the doctrine of salvation through grace.

But over time, my perspective changed as I found myself drawn into another tradition within Christianity–one that views baptism in a different way that I’ve found incredibly meaningful and beautiful.

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