jencoito

In the Candlelight

Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your kindness. – Psalm 31:17 A cross-country trip enabled me to spend time with a dear friend and her family on the East Coast. While we have seen each other often on her family trips to California, this was a rare chance for me toContinueContinue reading “In the Candlelight”

I’m Stumped

First Sunday of Advent, C Cycle “In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do what is right and just in the land.” – Jeremiah 33:14 The tiny pieces of the off-brand Lego set do not want to fit together. And just when I get themContinueContinue reading “I’m Stumped”

Before the Altar

Readings: Matthew 18:1-5, 10At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enterContinueContinue reading “Before the Altar”

Bits & Pieces

Cut, snip, crop, paste, decoupage. I cannot count the number of projects in school and helping with retreats where the prompt was “All About Me” and the task was to cut and paste from a pile of discarded magazines and newspapers. In the 90s, every household seemed to have subscriptions to TV Guide, National Geographic,ContinueContinue reading “Bits & Pieces”

Doesn’t Quite Fit

Reading: Lk 9:1-6 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, noContinueContinue reading “Doesn’t Quite Fit”

Love is…

Reading: 1 Cor 12:31-13:13 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathomContinueContinue reading “Love is…”

Meek and Humble

Reading: Luke 6:20-26 Looking at his disciples, he said:Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and rejectContinueContinue reading “Meek and Humble”

Clinging to Jesus

Reading: LK 4:38-44 Jesus Heals Many Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to waitContinueContinue reading “Clinging to Jesus”

Icky Sticky

Reading: MT 23:27-32 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful but inside are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of uncleanness. So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisyContinueContinue reading “Icky Sticky”

At a loss… trusting God will give me the words

The education, pastoral ministry, and nonprofit sectors love the personality tests. I won’t list all the various social and psychological iterations here, but no matter what kind of personality test you give me, I always come out as some kind of analytical introvert. I’m the kind that struggles to articulate thoughts and feelings on theContinueContinue reading “At a loss… trusting God will give me the words”