Isn't it amazing that, even in the midst of talking about what to do with difficult people, Jesus never loses sight of the open arms of God's welcome? His focus is not on how to punish someone who has wronged another, but on how to restore them. … Read the rest “Table Meditation for Proper 18a – 6-September-26”
What do you do when someone does something you don't like -- something that makes you feel bad? [Allow for answers]
Jesus said, that when someone does something that hurts you, that you should go and talk with them and tell them about it.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment (Gospel) for Proper 18a – 6-September-26”
Even in difficult situations, Jesus focuses on restoring and building relationships if possible. Likewise, we who follow in Jesus' way need to focus on restoring and building relationships. We do that most of all by showing genuine and authentic love for people, by meeting them where they are and helping them with their real needs and struggles.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Proper 18a – 6-September-26”
Jesus intentionally gives us a paradox in his words, "those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it." What does Jesus mean in saving your life or losing it.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Proper 17 – 30-August-26”
Jesus showed the truth of his own words, "those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it." So, at the Table, as you meet our Host, who laid down his life that we might have life with God, let's recommit ourselves to laying down all that stands in the way of our life with God. … Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Proper 17 – 30-August-26”
I have a riddle for you today. What gets bigger when you take away from it? [Allow time for guesses]
The answer is a hole. Most riddles are like that. There's a kind of a trick to finding the answer.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment (Gospel) for Proper 17a – 30-August-26”
How do we see evidence that Jesus reveals God to us? Much of what we see of Jesus is the character of a prophet, a teacher, or a preacher. Yet there is something, something that Peter also saw, that helps us to recognize that to see Jesus, is to see God in some real way.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Proper 16a – 23-August-26”
Jesus commends Peter saying "flesh and blood have not revealed this to you." Interesting that Jesus himself was revealing God in flesh and blood. Here at the table, these two symbols, the bread and the cup represent the broken flesh and spilled blood that Jesus gave to open the way for us to be right with God. … Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Proper 16a – 23-August-26”
Who do you think Jesus is? How would you describe him to a friend or a teacher?
[Allow time for answers]
Jesus asked the same question to his disciples, and they came up with a lot of different ideas, just like you.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment (Gospel) for Proper 16a – 23-August-26”
Jesus said that it's not what goes into our mouths (or doesn't) that changes us for good or ill. It's what comes out of the heart. This is true here at the Table as well. It's not the bread and cup that we take that change us. … Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Proper 15a – 16-August-26”