http://youtu.be/OHkvan-NFnM Gospel Reflection for March 31/April 7, Easter Sunday/2nd Sunday of Easter: For Jesus’ friends the time after his death and resurrection is a confusing and frightening time. Jesus’ tomb is empty. His disciples do not understand God has raised Jesus from the dead; they do not expect his resurrection and return to them. In […]
Current Music and the Gospel: “A Thousand Years,” Christina Perri Read More »
“Father into your hands I commend my spirit.” After Jesus said this, he died. Luke 23.46 How can a man who is crucified be God’s messiah who comes to save people and bring them new life? Jesus, who dies the death of a criminal, isn’t even powerful enough to save himself. The first Christian preachers
Gospel Reflection for March 24, Palm/Passion Sunday Read More »
http://youtu.be/cUoZN4cpfmM Gospel Reflection for March 24, Palm/Passion Sunday: Reflecting on the suffering and death of Jesus can be very difficult, especially when we remember that Jesus suffered and died out of love for others. Even when he was alone and felt abandoned, Jesus continued to bring forgiveness to those around him. The song “Learn Me
Current Music and the Gospel: “Learn Me Right,” Birdy with Mumford and Sons Read More »
Gospel reflection for March 17th, 5th Sunday of Lent: In Sunday’s gospel Jesus rescues a woman caught in adultery, a crime punishable by death. The woman feels ashamed, but Jesus turns his attention to those who condemn her, forcing them to recognize none of them are perfect. In this action Jesus shows us that compassion
Current Music and the Gospel: “Stubborn Love,” The Lumineers Read More »
The topic of siblings usually provokes conversation. Siblings may consider some of us oldest children bossy even though parents might use the words dependable and responsible. Many of us have the wild or special-needs brother or sister who absorbs more attention than the rest. This is the one who wrecks the car or who gets
Which son are you? Read More »
My son, you are with me always, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice! This brother of yours was dead and lives again. He was lost and is found. Luke 15.31-32 In Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son, Luke holds up not only a model of conversion in
Gospel Reflection for March 10, 2013, 4th Sunday of Lent Read More »
Gospel Reflection for March 10, 4th Sunday of Lent: Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son tells two stories. The younger son’s story shows us God’s endless love and forgiveness. But we may feel sympathy with the jealous older brother who feels unappreciated and can’t accept his father’s response. The song “Feel Again” by OneRepublic reminds
Current Music and the Gospel: “Feel Again,” OneRepublic Read More »
Jesus tells a parable about a man who plants a fig tree in his orchard but finds no fruit after three years. The man tells the gardener to cut it down. The gardener said, “Sir, leave it one more year while I hoe around it and manure it. Perhaps then it will bear figs. If
Gospel Reflection for March 3, 3rd Sunday in Lent Read More »
Gospel Reflection for March 3, 3rd Sunday of Lent: In Sunday’s gospel parable Jesus teaches his followers both to be more forgiving and to ask for forgiveness when they make a mistake. The gardener in the parable gives the fig tree one more chance to bear fruit, but it can be much harder to give
Current Music & The Gospel: “Second Chance,” Tristan Prettyman Read More »
In the gospel for the 1st Sunday of Lent the Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness, where he duels with the devil. The Spirit fills Mary, Elizabeth, Zachariah, and Simeon before descending upon Jesus at his baptism and leading him into the desert. All these activities culminate in Jesus’ first preaching, his inaugural address
Gospel Reflection for Lent: How does the Holy Spirit work in our world? Read More »