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”
Jesus tried to get his home congregation to see that the realm of God was far bigger than they thought. That the love, respect, and looking out for each other extended to all people everywhere. Later he said that the best place to begin was with the poor, the outcasts, and the forgotten.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Epiphany 4C – 2-Feb-25”
When Jesus went back to his hometown in our gospel story for today, he tried to explain to them that God's love is for everyone. I guess a lot of them thought that it was just for them and they were upset to hear that God's love was not only for other folks but that those folks might receive it better than they would.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Epiphany C4 – 2-Feb-25”
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Jesus had to break it to his home congregation that the realm of God wasn't only for them; not for just an inside group. That's always been true and it's still true today.… Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Epiphany 4C – 2-Feb-25”
Jesus said that the scripture was being fulfilled as the folks heard it read. I will say that this scripture is being fulfilled as we live it out in deeds of reconciliation, liberation, and simple caring for those in need.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Epiphany 3c – 26-Jan-25”