Acts 2:1-21 • The Spirit descends upon the people. 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 • The gifts of the Spirit. As we celebrate the birth of the church we give thanks for all that we share, all that we are and all that we shall be together. It says in the passage
Continue reading
Acts 17:22-31 • The Unknown God. John 14:15-21 • The Advocate, the Spirit, will be with you. What is the role of the church? What are we called to do and be as people of faith? We are called to love. There is no magical formula to doing this. What
Continue reading
We live in a complex and dynamic world. As followers of Jesus we are called to acknowledge and proclaim that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. In some parts of the world this proclamation has led to the persecution of Christians, as Stephen (in the passage from
Continue reading
As Jesus speaks, we learn that even in the apparently simpler times of Palestine two thousand years ago, there was more than one group and individuals vying for followers. Like then, we need to hone our listening so that we can better choose which voices we respond to. The Epistle
Continue reading
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
Continue reading
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
Continue reading
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
Continue reading
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
Continue reading
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
Continue reading
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
Continue reading