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!)
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)
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)
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)
Lectionary Reflection for Tranfiguration Sunday, Year A, February 26, 2017
Change is all around us, and a lot of it is downright terrifying. The question is how are we going to deal with it? Will we expect the magical, fantastic change of transmogrification? Or, will we be willing to persist and accept the hard, slow, life-giving change of transfiguration? (Photo: Kathleen Dagostino, Creative Commons)
Seventh Sunday after Epiphany, Year A, February 19, 2017
Most people pride themselves on being good, law-abiding citizens, but it’s not enough to simply avoid doing harm to one’s neighbor. Jesus calls us also to work actively on behalf of our neighbors, to seek their good, and even to pray for those who torment or would harm us. This is one tall order, but it is integral to being a good steward of God’s abundance. (Photo: Alisdare Hickson, Creative Commons)
Revised Common Lectionary Reflection for the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany, Year A, February 12, 2017
God’s faithful and generous people are workers in God’s garden of this world–tending, cultivating, and equipping one another for growth and life. It’s an ongoing process depends on our willingness, both as individuals and faith communities–to let God control our plans and direction. How will your garden grow? (Photo: Roxanne Ready, Creative Commons)
Lectionary Reflection, 5th Sunday after Epiphany, Year A, Feb. 5, 2017
If we really want to spread the love of God and the good news of Jesus Christ, then we must quit being so stingy with it. We need to be lavish and prodigal in our sharing of that with which we have been so graciously entrusted. This is the fast God desires for us. (Photo: Amir Farshad Ebrahimi, Creative Commons)
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A, January 29, 2017.
God’s faithful and generous people are called to follow and serve. We may feel like we are ill-equipped or not “enough” to respond to God’s call, but in this week’s lessons we hear affirmation that God requires simple yet profound action and calls everyone to use his or her gifts and talents in the process. (Photo: gilliu00, Creative Commons)
