Narrative Lectionary Reflection for Palm Sunday, Year Three, April 9, 2017
What if we truly enter into Holy Week and the story of Jesus’ walk to the cross this year? What if we took this week to look, to listen, and to accompany those who have been silenced? What if we take seriously Jesus’ words and weariness with our sinful disobedience? Can we hear the silent stones, see the invisible ones, and discern the way of peace? (Photo: Susie Cagle, Creative Commons)
Narrative Lectionary Reflection for the Fifth Sunday in Lent, Year Three, April 2, 2017
In this week’s lesson, Jesus has come to seek out those whom the world deems lost and bring salvation to them. He’s not just talking about Zaccheaus either. All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. All of us are in need of Jesus’ amazing grace. It’s all in how one sees things. How’s your vision?
Revised Common Lectionary Reflection for the Fifth Sunday in Lent, Year A, April 2, 2017
If God can animate dry bones, if Jesus can bring about the restoration of rotting flesh, imagine what the Spirit can do for a tired congregation, for a group of weary and battered disciples, and for the communities in which our congregations are rooted! Where there is God, there is indeed hope. (Photo: Tim, Creative Commons. Thanks!)
Narrative Lectionary Reflection for the Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year Three, March 26, 2017
Listen up, dear people of God. You are not invisible to your creator, and neither are your neighbors. We will not find our identity within the malls and halls of consumer culture or by shame, guilt, or duty. Instead, our identity comes through love, by seeing one another as we really are–broken, beautiful, and created in God’s image–and affirming the wealth that comes though that alone. Yes, there is good news for us in the story of Lazarus and the rich man if we but open our eyes to see. (Photo: Seth Stoll, Creative Commons)
Revised Common Lectionary Reflection for the Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year A, March 26, 2017
Jesus is still in the business of miracles today. He takes us, ordinary sinful, yet named and claimed disciples, and through water, word, bread, and wine equips us to be his people. He takes our humble gifts and multiples our meager offerings in ways that can’t be explained rationally. We who were once blind now see a new vision, fresh possibility, and real hope. (Photo: Creative Commons)
Narrative Lectionary Reflection for the Third Sunday in Lent, Year Three, March 19, 2017
Losing and finding and remembering are important words for modern day steward-disciples to ponder, too. What have we lost that needs to be valued and found? What do we need to remember so that we do not experience loss and a path to destruction? What are we begrudgingly holding on to with a sense of entitlement at the expense of our brothers or sisters? (Photo:
RCL Reflection, Third Sunday in Lent, Year A, March 19, 2017
Everyone has worth and matters to God. We all hunger and thirst for the same basic things that only God can provide. Our Creator is prodigally generous, meeting our needs, lifting us up from the muck of our own making, and claiming us as part of the family. Can we not extend that same generosity to our sisters and brothers in the name of Christ so that all thirst may be quenched? (Photo: Amir Farshad Ebrahimi, Creative Commons)
Lectionary Reflection for the Second Sunday in Lent, Year A
Do you enjoy a good mystery? How about the mysteries of faith? Unlike Nicodemus, we generally don’t have to come covertly under cover of night to ponder and discuss God’s amazing love and grace or those aspects of faith that are tough to grasp. As faithful stewards, we do need to grapple with them rather than “check our brains” at the church door. In the pondering, wrestling, and sharing faith it deepens and is enlivened. Go ahead; give it a try if you haven’t already. (Photo: Coffee Shop Soulja, Creative Commons)
Narrative Lectionary Reflection for the First Sunday of Lent, Year 3, March 5, 2017
This Lent, maybe we can make a real effort to focus on that which really matters. What if we got real about loving our neighbors in a culture that is making so many of our neighbors feel unsafe, unwelcome, and unsure about their place in our cities and towns? What if we got real about putting aside all of the extra “stuff” of daily life and instead make time for Jesus and for our faith communities? (Photo: Jamelle Bouie, Creative Commons)
Lectionary Reflection for the First Sunday in Lent, Year A, March 5, 2017
The second test for Jesus concerns proving his identity. Wasn’t it enough that God had spoken at Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan? Not for the adversary, who challenged Jesus for more. What is at stake for us today in our Christian identity? A lot, or not much at all? (Photo: Pablo.Ezekiel, Creative Commons)
