Acts 6:1-7; 1 Peter 2:4-9; John 14:1-12 “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1).  These words, spoken by our Lord at the Last Supper, were intended to bring courage, strength, and hope to the disciples.  They would have needed courage before the night was over and throughout the next day as they...
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Acts of the Apostles 2:42-47; I Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31             “Blest are they who have not seen and have believed” (John 20:29) Sometimes I think Thomas got a bum wrap in John’s Gospel.  In the other gospels Thomas is only mentioned in the list of the twelve apostles.  In John’s gospel however it...
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Our friends at the Prairie Climate Stewardship Network have shared the following with us: During the season of Lent, we are called to metanoia – the changing of our minds and hearts to new ways of thinking and acting. Change involves taking an honest look at ourselves – the lives we live and the...
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Isaiah 35:1-6,10;  James 5:7-10;  Matthew 11:2-11 John the Baptist, in prison and pondering his fate and the success of his message, appears to be having doubts.  John, the cousin of Jesus, who grew up with Jesus, knew that the time of the Messiah had come.  He knew well the message of hope proclaimed by...
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Exodus 32:7-11,13-14; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-32 Discipleship, if you really think about it, is an adult experience of faith.  While children can and do believe in Jesus, their expression of faith is pretty much limited to the choices their parents make for them.  A child cannot typically live the call to discipleship because...
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Wisdom 9:13-18;  Philemon 9-10,12-17;  Luke 14:25-33 A century before Christ was born, crucifixion was introduced by the Roman authorities as a punishment for those who committed treason.  Crucifixion soon became commonplace in Palestine, the region where Jesus was born and raised.  When Jesus was about ten years old, history teaches us that the Romans...
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Genesis 18:20-32;  Colossians 2:12-14;  Luke 11:1-13 The disciples came to Jesus with the request, “Lord, teach us to pray.” In reply Jesus gave us some of the most familiar words to Christians, “The Lord’s Prayer.”  Luke’s version is worded differently than Matthew’s from which we derive the memorized prayer.  But the first lesson we...
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Acts 5:27-32, 40-41; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19 Remember how it all started.  They were out fishing when a man named Jesus, a stranger, came along.  He told them to cast their nets out in the water.  The catch that day was so great their nets were filled to point of breaking. Today’s gospel account...
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Acts 5:12-16;  Revelation 1:9-13,17-19;  John 20:19-31 One popular type of television entertainment today is the makeover show.  The persons involved are given an opportunity to makeover a room, a yard, or even themselves.  The producers always make sure there are plenty of before pictures.  After the makeover, all present marvel at the differences between...
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  How are the readings for the Sundays of Lent chosen and structured? The Lenten season is powerfully significant. A meticulous overall plan was envisioned for the Sunday readings that would convey the rich variety of Lenten themes. The three readings, along with the psalm, were all chosen to correspond thematically. A common theme...
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