On the birthday of the church, the Holy Spirit gave the disciples a gift that helped them overcome their fear, build relationships, and leave a place of familiarity.
The first chapter of Acts reminds us that Jesus's time on earth ended, but that the church went on. In the wake of Easter, what will we do to bring…
Entering Holy Week, Jesus is up all night struggling to face our final fear: certain death. What do we discover about ourselves in his anxious hours?
The work of reconciliation begins with recognizing the discomfort that comes from recognizing that the stories we have told ourselves about the world, and ourselves, do not match up with…
In moments of urgent need, we do what we can. If that means anointing one about to die, we do that. If that means giving to the poor, we do…
In these linked stories from Jesus's ministry in Jerusalem, we see the message: preaching sacrifice for others while using their sacrifice for your own ends is the opposite of holiness.
The Psalmist reminds us that the first step toward reconciliation and the work of building God's world together is repenting of our sin. In America, to build the nation we…
When Bartimaeus calls out "Jesus, son of David, have mercy!", he understands Jesus better than the disciples. He then asks Jesus to help him see. He understands why he is…
Jesus tells us to welcome children in our midst, and also to learn from their minds and examples. What are their lessons?
Jesus reminds me that we never truly stand alone, but that in the power of community relationships, we can build the abundant world of God.
Jesus reminds us that what may be clear to us may not be clear to others. But even as we work to tell stories that others understand, we need to…
One striking part of Jesus's ministry was the way he refused to show the fullness of who he was before the time was ripe. Perhaps he did not want people…
As Mark tells the story, the Pharisees in Levi's house assume that the people Jesus is eating with are not righteous. Jesus turns it around and questions their authority to…
In the midst of darkness, when we receive joy, we are called to share it. Maybe it will change someone else's life the way Mary changed Elizabeth's life!
The peace of Christ is not passive. It is not the absence of active conflict. It is the reconciliation of conflicts within ourselves, with each other, and with God, with…
As we head into Thanksgiving week, the story of the Israelites coming to their promised land and finding it inhabited resonates. As we see the complications in the story of…
At the foot of Mount Sinai, the people Israel saw the model of our relationships with one another, based on mutual love and obligation. In this time, our mutual obligation…
