Pentecost means “The Fiftieth,” as it fell on the fiftieth day – or a week of weeks – after the Passover. Today, we heard a story from Acts where the followers of Christ were gathered together and were blessed by the Holy Spirit. We heard John tell us that Jesus “breathed on them and said,…
May often signals a season of transition in the church. Graduations, maybe the end of a Sunday school season with thanks to the teachers and time off in the summer. These ends often don’t immediately lead to new beginnings but, rather, to in-between times. Bu it’s hard to live in “in between” spaces — in…
The other day, I was looking at a care label on one of my shirts and read, “Warning: Do not iron while wearing shirt.” I know that laundry and dishwasher pods have large instructions on them that say “Do not eat” and the manufacturers have developed childproof packaging. There’s a warning on my washer that…
Last week, I summed up the readings before I started and said that I was tempted to simply say that God is love and that’s all you need to know and sit down. And then I proceeded to travel down the rabbit hole of the stories of the Good Shepherd and how they were connected,…
“You are witnesses of these things” (Lk 24:48). Jesus doesn’t say to the disciples, “You will be witnesses” or “Please be witnesses” or even “Consider being witnesses if you have time in your busy schedules, between fishing and fixing your nets.” Nope, it’s simple: “You ARE witnesses of these things.” We are witnesses. As it…
A week ago, we celebrated the resurrection. But there comes a time when we must live the resurrection. That is not always easy. There are days when we prefer to just stay in bed, pull the covers over our head, and close out the world. Some days it seems far easier and safer to lock…
If you ask ten Christians why the women come to Jesus’ tomb that Easter morning, it’s a sure bet that nine will tell you that they bring spices to anoint the corpse of Jesus… but that isn’t the story that John tells. John tells us that Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus have already wrapped the…
One of the questions I have is whether Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem was accidental or planned. Did Jesus one day decide to make a trip into Jerusalem and a parade broke out? Or was this God’s plan in a deliberately chosen and planned out way to make a statement at this specific time? We…
Right in the middle of Lent, we get this inspiring message of hope from Jeremiah: “I will put my law within them,” says the Lord, “and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (Jer 31:33). What are we to make of these hopeful…
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer” (Ps 19:14). On this third Sunday in Lent, as we continue to journey towards Jerusalem and the cross, we are in the territory of frameworks for living out our faith. This is…
The first Sunday in Lent recalls Jesus’ baptism and subsequent testing in the wilderness. Today’s Psalm underscores that the season of Lent is a sustained process in relationship with God. The struggle against enemies is bound up with hearing and learning the teachings of the Lord over time. The language in today’s psalm recalls…
Today is often called Transfiguration Sunday, primarily because the readings all echo a similar theme of being changed, or transfigured. Webster’s defines transfigure, which it notes is a distinctly British word, as “to give a new and typically exalted or spiritual appearance to : transform outwardly and usually for the better.” Within the church, we…
