On our fridge we have tacked up a quote from Martin Luther King that reads “if you succumb to the temptation of using violence in your struggle, unborn generations will be the recipients of a long and desolate night of bitterness, and your chief legacy to the future will be an endless…
Scripture: Luke 1:38 — “Mary said, ‘Here I am, the Lord’s slave. Let it become for me just as you said.’” Exhortation: The angel’s message to Mary was strange. The Holy of Holies in the Temple in Jerusalem was empty: there was no ark. Many common people in Galilee, and those in…
In Luke 2:1-20, the emperor Augustus and the governor of Quirinius, men of power, wealth, and privilege, are the backdrop of what appears to be an ordinary couple in a difficult situation: they have freshly arrived in town and Mary is great with child, about to deliver, but the inn…
Scripture: John 1:26-27 — “Standing among you – unknown to you – is the one coming after me; I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandal.” Exhortation: The one who is coming – who, as John says, “is greater than I” – the greatest of all (who…
Scripture: Mark 1:4 — “John the Baptist proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Exhortation: Baptism initiates us into a life – a way or path – of repentance. When we are baptized, we become lifelong penitents. When John baptized Jesus, the Spirit kissed him with approval and anointed…
Scripture: Mark 13:33-37 — Jesus said, “Be on your guard, stay awake … Stay awake … What I am saying to you I say to all, Stay awake!” Exhortation: In times of hopelessness or high emotions, we might give in to thinking like others. We might reach for wrong solutions; we might…
John 20: 21-22 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:1-6 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. (They were…
The Gospel lesson today is a very familiar one, from John 12:1-8: Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table…
The Gospel reading from this past Sunday came from Luke chapter 15. This chapter has stories of lost and found. These stories are very familiar to us. The pastor at the church I attend, who preached on the gospel lesson, reminded us of these three stories. He said recently that…
Totally unqualified to write on the subject and requesting your indulgence, I continue your servant council’s Lenten reflections on this year’s topic though I am pretty certain that I am the least knowledgeable in our little order and perhaps even the most unsure-footed among all of God’s followers when it…