Jesus tells us that our concern and care are not to be reserved for people who love us back. We are to love those who are our enemies. We are to love those who we've never met (and probably won't ever meet.)… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Epiphany C7 – 23-Feb-25”
Today's story from the gospel is Jesus teaching his disciples about a lot of different things. It's sort of like when your parents have to leave you alone for a bit and they leave a lot of instructions on how to behave.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Epiphany C7 – 23-Feb-25”
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Sometimes it's not so easy loving even those we care about, yet Jesus tells us to love even those who wish us harm. It's not easy, but it may be a little easier for us if we remember that here at this table, we experience God's mercy and underserved love every week.… Read the rest “Table Meditation for Epiphany C7 – 23-Feb-25”
Paul quips in Romans 6:1, "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" meaning, "Should we just keep on sinning so God will have even more to forgive?" With Paul, I'll say, "God forbid."
In just the same way, although Jesus says that the poor, the hungry, the weeping, he does not mean that we should simply let those conditions continue in order that those folks will be blessed.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Epiphany 6C – 16-Feb-25”
Today's story from the gospel is Jesus teaching his disciples about how God's way is different from ours. Jesus says that God is already working so that the poor, the hungry, the outcasts, and those who are hated because they are God's are the ones who are blessed.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Epiphany C6 – 16-Feb-25”
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I think we might read the Beatitudes wrongly. I don't think that Jesus is saying that we are blessed because of the circumstances he lists (any more than we should consider ourselves blessed because we aren't facing those circumstances).… Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Epiphany 6C – 16-Feb-25”
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Jeremiah talks about a tree planted by the water in the verses for today. He says that this tree is full of life and never ceases to bear fruit. As difficult as it may be to think so, he's talking about us -- us when we're connected to the life-giving stream of God's love and grace.… Read the rest “Table Meditation (OT) for Epiphany C6 – 16-Feb-25”
Like Peter, we realize that there are a lot of times when we're just not good enough for God's standards. The good news is that God doesn't expect us to be. When we give of our time, efforts, and financial resources, it isn't to somehow do enough good that God will recognize us.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Epiphany C5 – 9-Feb-25”
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There are times, in our relationship with Jesus, where God's perfection and the sense of our own sinfulness collide and, like Peter, all we can say is "Lord, you should have nothing to do with me.… Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Epiphany C5 – 9-Feb-25”
Today, in our story from the gospels, Jesus meets some fishermen, and he goes out to fish with them. After working all night, they still hadn't caught any fish at all. Now some fishermen will tell you that that isn't the point, but these guys had to catch fish to sell in order to make a living, so they were disappointed, tired, and probably a bit mad.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Epiphany C5 – 9-Feb-25”