XXXVIII. AWE AND EXCITEMENT ON EARTH DAY (4/22) “Work out your own salvation with awe and excitement; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you to both will and to work for God’s good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13-14, Bruce’s translation) Many translations say: “fear and trembling” rather than “awe and excitement,” these are as good as mine. But I have a reason for my alternative. First, “fear and trembling” suggest that God is judging us in a... Read more
XXXVII. HAVING THE MIND OF CHRIST (4/21) “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5) We must remember that Paul’s Letters were addressed to people just like us and congregations just like our own, mostly small, struggling, aware of their limits, and (also) hopeful in the new life of Jesus Christ. Paul challenges us to have the mind of Christ. He leaves the contours of the mind of Christ vague, inviting us to embody... Read more
XXXVIII. THE GOOD WORK GOD IS DOING IN YOU (4/20) For I am confident that the one who began a good work in you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ…having produced a harvest of righteousness.” (Philippians 1:3, 11) Imagine that! Today, in the middle of a pandemic, God is doing a good work in you. God is at work in your life, planting seeds of hope and love, seeds of mission and creativity, and inviting... Read more
XXXVII. (4/19) PRACTICING RESURRECTION “The one who believes in me will also do the works that I do, and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father…If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.” (John 14:12, 14) This passage has always puzzled me. How can we do greater works than Jesus, who raised the dead, healed the sick, calmed storms, and rose on the third day? We are... Read more
XXXVI. (4/18) SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE “Think on these things, whatever is honest, pure, and lovely.” (Philippians 4:8) This morning I got ticked off as I was taking my sunrise walk on the Craigville beaches. At the edge of the parking lot, a visitor, no doubt practicing their own form of physical distancing, had left a of empty Blue Moon Pale Belgium Ale. For a moment, I couldn’t imagine what sort of lowlife would desecrate this beautiful place by such... Read more
XXXV. GOT DOUBT (4/17) But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were again in the house, and... Read more
XXXIV. IN THE BREAKING OF BREAD (4/16) As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were... Read more
XXXIII. ON THE ROAD WITH JESUS (4/16) While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. (Matthew 24: 15-16) On Easter day, two followers of Jesus are heading home. They have heard the news of the resurrection but are still in a state of shock. Resurrection turns everything upside down. Resurrection challenges our images of the human adventure. Resurrection shows that life is more powerful than death... Read more
XXXII. BREATHE ON ME BREATH OF GOD (4/15) After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:20-22) On Easter night, Jesus’ followers were sheltering in place for fear of the... Read more
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The Adventurous Lectionary – The Third Sunday of Easter – April 26, 2020
The Adventurous Lectionary – Third Sunday of Easter – April 26,2020 Acts 2, 14a, 23-41; Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19; I Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35 For people most likely sheltering in place, today’s scriptures are about movement, reminding us that movement can be spiritual and ethical as well as physical. We are challenged to take journeys without distance and to use our sheltering in place as an opportunity for spiritual adventure. Today’s reading highlights the Emmaus Walk. It could be titled, “Let’s... Read more