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 rejectContinue 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 waitContinue 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 hypocrisyContinue 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 theContinue reading "At a loss… trusting God will give me the words"
Where Jesus Went
After an unfortunate mishap involving a tiny foot and a bathroom door, we ended up at urgent care late at night. My four-year-old was shaking as the doctor examined and x-rayed his foot. It was painful, but he was also terrified. Thankfully no cast was needed and it was just a nasty purple bruise. HeContinue reading "Where Jesus Went"
Who You Know
Reading: Jn 14:7-14 If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still doContinue reading "Who You Know"
Broken Locks
Savoring Easter: Jesus Appears to the Apostles in the Locked Room Our daughter’s room had no doorknob. We went through a phase where she locked herself in her room over and over again. She knew how to lock the door but not how to let herself out. One time she locked herself in a roomContinue reading "Broken Locks"
One Step Forward
Reading: Jn 6:16-21 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles,Continue reading "One Step Forward"
The First Phone Call
Tuesday in the Octave of Easter “ Mary went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he had told her.” -John 20:18 If we won an award, lost a tooth, or had something exciting happen as kids, our first call was always to our grandmother. In the pre-cellContinue reading "The First Phone Call"
Are we there yet?
We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death,so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,we too might live in newness of life. - Romans 6:4-5 When I drive somewhere new (especially when the road involves high cliffs and sharp turns) the fear of getting lostContinue reading "Are we there yet?"