RCL Reflection, 5th Sunday in Lent, Year B, March 18, 2018
Jesus announces that he is drawing all people to himself in a most humble and unexpected way. There is no fanfare, no empty promises, and no shortcut around the reality of what it means to love God, serve Jesus, and love neighbor. Only through death can we experience real and lasting life. (Photo: Charles Knowles, Creative Commons)
Revised Common Lectionary Reflection, Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 11, 2018
God’s been at this love business for a mighty long time, too. Having spoken the world into being—itself a great act of creative love—God continues to provide humankind with a way forward, no matter how much we grumble or how abysmally we fail at loving God in return. This, my friends, is very good news! (Photo: Bob Brennaman, Creative Commons)
RCL Reflection, 3rd Sunday in Lent, Year B, March 4, 2018
After all these years, God is still confounding the powerful and privileged with the good news and the scandal of the cross. Jesus is still making room at the table for the marginalized and outcast. The wine is poured and bread is shared in the name of the one who opened his arms to all in the midst of his own agony and horrific death. How will you respond to this countercultural vision of wisdom and strength. (Photo: Creative Commons License)
RCL Reflection, 2nd Sunday in Lent, Feb. 25, 2018
The terrifyingly good news infused through this week’s lessons is simply that God breaks in, usually when we least expect it, and invites us to live and love and walk in ways we wouldn’t imagine or choose on our own. We may fall on our faces, like Abram did, but we don’t get to stay that way; we get up, take up our cross, and follow Jesus into real life. (Photo: Loco Steve, Creative Commons)
RCL Reflection, 1st Sunday in Lent, Year B, Feb. 18, 2018
It’s helpful to pack as lightly as possible for the Lenten journey. How can we encourage one another to lay down our burdens, our possessions, our addictions–anything that comes between us and God–so that we can make space and time for divine encounters? Mark’s gospel structure gives us some hints. (Photo: S. Blezard, Creative Commons)
RCL Reflection for Transfiguration Sunday, Year B, Feb. 11, 2018
No, we weren’t on the mountaintop with Peter, James, and John, but the light of Christ and the presence of Jesus is all around us. Jesus still reveals the glory of God in ways both ordinary and extraordinary. All we need do are listen and look. (Photo: Art in the Christian Tradition, Creative Commons)
RCL Reflection, 5th Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B, Feb. 4, 2018
This week’s Old Testament lesson and gospel lesson remind us that we all stand in need of healing, renewal, and rest, and that the source of that rest is God. Even Jesus knew to recharge his batteries in prayer and time apart. (Photo: Hernan Pinera, Creative Commons)
RCL reflection, 4th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B, Jan. 28, 2018
When it comes to exercising our freedom, we may think we have the authority on our own, but the truth is that Christ is the one with ultimate authority and ultimate truth. Our freedom is found in him alone. Even the unclean spirits of this world recognize and bow to his authority. What this means for us is that there is always hope.
RCL Reflection, 3rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year B, Jan. 21, 2018
There’s a saying, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” Maybe Jesus’ immediate call to us today to fish for people happens one step and one breath and one prayer at a time. Now that’s an immediately I can wrap my heart and my soul and maybe even my stubborn head around. How about you?
RCL Reflection, 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B, Jan. 14, 2018
What will people see when invited to your your congregation? Will they find Jesus reflected in the lives and witness of his people, or will they see only threadbare and outdated furnishings and somber folk? Will they feel the Spirit, hear the Word taught and proclaimed in fresh and real ways, and encounter Christ? Are you ready to say “Come and see?” (Photo: Wendi Kelly, Creative Commons)
