People don't usually come out and ask the question like Jesus did: "Who do you say I am?" But they are wondering who we think Jesus is? What we do and how we do it tells them more about who we think Jesus is than what we say, as important as what we say is.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Proper 19B – 15-Sep-24”
When you're trying to describe someone to another person, what kinds of things do you say about them? [Wait for answers]
In our gospel story for today, Jesus is talking with the disciples and he first asks, "Who do other people say that I am?"… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Proper 19B – 15-Sep-24”
"Who do you say that I am?" Jesus asks the disciples. How would they know? Where did they learn it? They learned who Jesus was from watching him -- watching him as he healed those with sicknesses and infirmities, watching him as he taught and argued, watching him as he reached out to the outcasts and the forgotten.… Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Proper 19B – 15-Sep-24”
Sometimes we forget that the Good News of God's love for each and every one of us is for everyone, people right here in this community of faith, people is this city and nation, and people all over the world.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Proper 18B – 8-Sep-24”
The passage from James for today warns us that we must not show partiality, must not treat one person as more important than another. We're all adopted children of God. That's true everywhere, but especially here at the Table.… Read the rest “Table Meditation (Epistle) for Proper 18b – 8-Sep-24”
Meeting someone new, especially someone who is very different from you can be difficult. Can you think of a time when you met someone who looked different from you... maybe they had different-looking clothes or maybe they spoke differently, maybe even in another language from what you're used to hearing.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Proper 18B – 8-Sep-24”
I think one thing that Jesus was trying to teach the Pharisees in our scripture for today is that what comes out of our heart goes into the world, so it not only affects us, but affects those around us.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Proper B17 – 01-Sep-24”
Jesus says, in our gospel story for today, that it is not what goes into a person, but what comes out of the heart that purifies or defiles you. So, when we take the bread and the cup in communion, it is not a rite of purification. … Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Proper B17 – 01-Sep-24”
Have you ever had one of your parents say to you, "Don't put that in your mouth!"? [wait for answers]
Well, first of all, let me say that they were right and you shouldn't do put some things in your mouth.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Proper 17B – 01-Sep-24”
Following Jesus is not easy and it's usually not intuitive either. We have to listen to God's Spirit very carefully to understand what we are really called to do. There are some parts of it that are easy to understand (and yet still take a lot of effort to do well:)
The scriptures are clear that we are to represent the love of God that we know through Jesus by loving others.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Proper 16B – 25-Aug-24”