Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 • What shall I return to the Lord? Luke 24:13-35 • The road to Emmaus. The seeds of hope are planted not only in the earth, but also in you and me. What does it take to grow these seeds? It begins by believing that there is
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It appears that the disciples have heard, but have certainly not believed Mary’s testimony of having encountered the resurrected Jesus. They have gathered together in fear, behind locked doors, to grieve Jesus’ death. When he appears to them, the first thing he does is to offer them a blessing of
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Why do you look for the living among the dead? Why do you weep when what you seek has come? The resurrection story sheds light on our doubt and leads to depth of knowing and believing. A stone, a tomb, a person cannot contain the power of God and the
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According to tradition, Jesus has been a public figure for three years. During this time, he has developed a reputation for being someone who taught with extraordinary authority. His interpretation of the teachings of his Jewish faith endeared him to everyone except the religious authorities. After a number of run-ins
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Psalm 130 • Out of the depths I cry to God. Ezekiel 37: 1-14 • Valley of dry bones John 11:1-45 • The raising of Lazarus. Wisdom takes us beyond thought to deeper knowing. Wisdom grounds us in grace. Both the story of the dry bones and the raising of
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The final sentence of 1 Samuel 15 is “And God was sorry to have made Saul king over Israel.” It may come as a surprise that the Old Testament portrays God as fallible, as expressing regret over something as important as having made a wrong choice in a matter as
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Psalm 95 • Let us shout to the rock of our salvation. Romans 5: 1-5 • Hope in God. John 4:5-42 • Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Lent is a season of accountability, of trust in God, and learning to use our best judgement. Jesus is a living example of
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In the Genesis reading, we hear God speaking to Abram, a childless, Bedouin septuagenarian. God tells Abram that if he and his equally aged wife Sarai leave their current home and everything they know, God will make them into a great nation and a blessing to all families on earth.
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Psalm 32 • Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven. Matthew 4:1-11 • Jesus tempted in the desert. The story of Jesus being tempted in the desert is one that inspires us, and challenges us. Can we be as strong as Jesus when faced with a choice that either trusts
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When it comes to the “Transfiguration” of Jesus, his being transformed in appearance, chatting with Moses and Elijah on a mountain and the very voice of God heard in a “bright cloud”, this story is simply beyond us. That may be just the point that God’s presence is significantly in
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