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”
We already know that God's idea of power is not much like our own. Yet it's a hard lesson to really learn, so today we get two very clear examples:
First, we get Jesus, riding on the back of a donkey, surrounded by ordinary people, making his way into Jerusalem. … Read the rest “Table Meditation for Palm Sunday – 24-March-24”
Hosanna! That's what the people were saying when Jesus rode into town on a donkey. Do you know what "hosanna" means? It's sort of like "Hurray!" or "Yay God!" and people were very excited to see Jesus at this time.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Palm Sunday B – 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”
In one of today's Psalm, the writer asks God to create a clean heart within him. What do you think it means to have a clean heart?
[wait for answers]
I think that part of what the writer is asking God for is to forgive him for all the times he's hurt other people in some way.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Lent 5b – 17-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." This bread before us is the result of seeds that fell to the earth and was reborn as stalks of grain, then "died" again, to be reborn as bread. … Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) 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”
John 3:16 is the most well-known scripture in the Bible, but does us well to read on to the next verse. John 3:17, “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." … Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Lent 4b – 10-March-24”
Have you ever heard the word "condemn"? What do you think "condemn" means?
[wait for answers]
In today's gospel reading, we hear that God did not send Jesus into the world to condemn the world. In fact, God sent Jesus into the world to save it.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment 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”