Narrative Lectionary Reflection for Easter Sunday, Year Three, April 16, 2017
Funny thing about this Easter story—the point is to go and share the story. It’s about faithfully stewarding the Good News of Jesus to a world that desperately needs to hear it. Sure folks may not believe it at first, but some will come to see and experience Jesus for themselves. This is no idle tale! It’s the life-changing story of Jesus’ love. (Photo: Creative Commons)
RCL Reflection for Palm/Passion Sunday, Year A, April 9, 2017
There is a story between the Palm Sunday and Easter “parades” that we do well not to miss. The work and witness of Holy Week beckons. Without fully experiencing Holy Week, we lose something valuable–a behind the scenes look at the real cost of our salvation and the dirty work it took to accomplish it. It is, indeed, an act of stewardship to devote our time and attention to this week. (Photo: Doug Bezaire & Susi Havens-Bezaire, Creative Commons)
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)
Narrative Lectionary Reflection for the Second Sunday in Lent, Year Three, March 12, 2017
I am thankful that God is a much better gardener than me and is willing to nurture underperforming plants through multiple chances. Even when we humans are ready to give up on one another, God still works to shore up the soil of our faith. What can we learn from the “Master Gardener”? How can we be better stewards and look for the best in one another? (Photo: Jonathan Rubio H., Creative Commons)
