Can we pray the way Bartimaeus prays? People try to hush him up because by addressing Jesus as “Son of David” he is making a politically dangerous claim that Jesus is the rightful king. Could our prayers ever be heard as a threat to unjust powers that be? Bartimaeus won’t give up or go away…
This week we continue to focus on gospel readings illustrating Jesus as the “bread of life,” and recall God’s sustaining power when he fed the Israelites “manna from heaven” as they wandered in the desert. We’re reminded that God also sustains us in our own personal “deserts” when we gather for the Word and the…
Today is the first of five Sundays with gospel readings from John 6, the first four of which focus on Jesus as bread of life. Today Jesus feeds thousands of people with five loaves and two fish. What we have, what we bring to Jesus’ table, seems like it is not nearly enough to meet…
On this Mother’s Day, we are reminded that God shows no partiality and we are all one in our baptism into Christ Jesus. We abide together in God’s love.
I had planned to preach something else this evening, but while I was reading my emails, I came across a statement by one of our pastors who was announcing the decision to cancel a conference meeting. He said this was being done because of the “unprecedented situation that we are facing in the struggle with COVID-19.” As individuals, I suppose he is…
Pr. Michel’s doctor told him he needs to lose weight. Pr. Michel responded, “Of course! I’ve known that for years. But that is easier said than done.” My brother’s doctor told him the same thing. And my brother went on a diet and actually lost 5 pounds. He came up to visit our mother, who at that time was living next to…
Many of us have felt what Elijah felt out in the wilderness. “Things are going quickly from bad to worse and I am the only one left who cares!” That was Elijah’s weary response to God. It came after Elijah’s momentous victory over the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. Elijah not only won that contest, when it was over, he got…