However you consider the events of that "first day of the week" all those years ago, one thing is clear: The event changed the disciples forever. They changed from a ragtag bunch of followers that were hiding in an upper room to a group that changed the world with what they have found.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Easter Sunday B – 31-March-24”
How is the love of God demonstrated? Jesus shows us that the love of God comes humbly, not with the trappings of power and the force of fear, but humbly, riding on the back of a donkey. Jesus shows us that the love of God comes to walk with the people the others forget about, to lift up those who are oppressed, to care for those in need.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Palm Sunday – 24-March-24”
"unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."
Unless we give of ourselves, our time, our abilities, and yes, our financial resources -- unless we give them away -- they remain just what we have.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Lent 5b – 17-March-24”
Nicodemus asked about what he needed to do to gain eternal life. Jesus responded by saying that the grace of God is freely given. The same thing is true for what the Church offers the world. It is freely given.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Lent 4b – 10-March-24”
The work of the church can be stated in two sentences: Teach people how to love God; and Engage in the loving service of others. Those are the things that we should be about. Those are the things we should support.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Lent 3b – 3-March-24”
The work of the Church consists of two movements. Just as the disciples encountered Jesus in a way that increased their understanding of who he was and what he meant, so we too must encounter our Christ in ways that increase our understanding and help us to grow in the faith.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation (Gospel) for Lent 2b – 24-February-24”
In our gospel story for today, among the other things that Jesus was doing, he was preparing himself to begin his earthly ministry. There are a lot of things that this church does, but one of those things is to prepare people to take the Good News of God's love for all people out into the world and share it with others.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Lent 1b – 18-February-24”
The Church has three basic jobs: First is to share with all people the Good News of God's love for all people. Second is to teach the things that Jesus taught us. Third is to be God's presence in our world.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Ordinary 6b – 11-February-24”
Sometimes it's important to work out of faith, just between God and ourselves, as Jesus did in the reading for today. But our faith doesn't do much when it's just between God and us. Faith thrives in community. We see the depth and power of our faith when we're serving others.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Epiphany 5b – 4-February-24”
Jesus can be quite amazing, but he can also be quite challenging. For instance, people were amazed at the authority with which he spoke, but his ideas of power and authority challenge our coercive understanding of power at its core.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Epiphany 4b – 28-January-24”