Throughout the season of the church year we celebrate Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. Three months later we commemorate Ash Wednesday, Lent, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. The longest season of the church year is Pentecost, celebrated 50 days later. But what do we call “the Saturday” that falls between Good Friday and […]
Pastor: One author has written: “Jesus was born crucified. Whenever he became conscious of “who he was,” he also became conscious of “what he had to do.” The “cross-shaped shadow” could always be seen. And “the screams of hells imprisoned” could always be heard. This explains “the glint of determination” on his face as he […]
Every year I also have to remind myself again of the meaning of Maundy Thursday. It’s one of those “churchy words” that we use once a year, “Maundy,” but its significance …can always be lost in the previous year’s facts and figures. “Maundy” means “commandment.” It comes from an old Latin word that sounds similar, […]
In the Early Christian Writings after Passion/Palm Sunday, the Sanhedrin gathered and plotted to kill Jesus before the feast of Pesach, if at all possible. On the Wednesday before his death, Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the Leper. As he sat at the supper table with his disciples, a woman named […]
I am not pointing fingers. I am not getting political. Do not read anything into the message. I think it is important to point out that “mockery and derision” are frequently the tactic of the “rich and the powerful” to besmirch someone’s character. It is historic. It has happened for centuries. It goes way back […]
Tonight, we are headed to a home somewhere in the Jerusalem suburb of Bethany, where Jesus stopped in to see his “old friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus” before he enters the city for the last time. “He loved them,” John tells us… although he does not tell us why. It doesn’t really matter either. Sometimes […]
It is not often talked about…but the gospel of John is also known as being the book of contrasts… For example: If I say, “Good,” you say, “Bad.” If I say, “Hot” you say, “____.”) If I say, “In” you say, “_____.”) If I say, “Dark” you say, “___.”) If I say, “Rich” you say, […]
I really want you to know that our Gospel text for today was extremely famous in the life of the early church. As a matter of fact, the same story is recorded in “some fashion” in each of the four gospel accounts. “Basically” it would seem that there are “two versions” of the same occurrence; […]
So, I played with some words. What comes to your mind when I say these words? Reckless. Blow. Foolish. Throw Away. Wasteful. Lose. Splurge. Consume. Misspend. Deplete. Misuse. Exhaust. Carelessly. And, drain. All of these words in “one way” or “another” relate to the word “prodigal.” If you want to know what a “prodigal” son […]
What are “our standards?” “How do we respond” to those who break our standards? “Are there even standards anymore?” “Who” determines your standards for you? Does your voice “even matter,” today? Jesus was “notorious” for many things…one of the things he was notorious for (much to the chagrin of the Pharisees and scribes) was that […]