Maybe [Jesus] felt the pressure of his mom’s faith. Maybe he struggled to trust his dad’s love for him. Maybe he was burdened by the expectation that he was supposed to be the one to bring a word of hope to those who were suffering. Maybe some days he just… Continue reading
I am coming to a different kind of appreciation about the importance of identifying the ground on which you live and work. It’s about identity. It’s about tradition. It’s about community. It’s about justice and reconciliation. It’s about holding the past and the present together. This reflection was shared at the 2023 Florida/Bahamas Synod Synodical… Continue reading
But Jesus still calls. Jesus still heals. Jesus still teaches. Jesus still restores people to wholeness and community. Our human limitations do not limit God and the impact of the Gospel. Pentecost 17a–Matthew 20:1-6 (The Church of St. Stephen & St. Bede, Winnipeg, on the last worship service in their location) Grace and… Continue reading
Whether the miracle in this story is that the loaves and fish from the disciples somehow fed more than 5000 people, or whether the miracle is that the generosity of the disciples inspired the generosity of others…in that deserted place, both the disciples and the crowd are faced with the… Continue reading
When we tell stories, using the mundane stuff of our daily lives, like the seeds of faith being planted through singing songs in the car or being impacted by the love of God in Jesus through creation, the kingdom of God comes in us. When we recognize that God makes God’s… Continue reading
There are all sorts of questions Jesus doesn’t answer through his explanation of this parable. But one conclusion he does seem to want his audience to draw is that it is not the servants’ job to pull up the weeds. That will happen at some point. But it’s the servants’ job to nurture… Continue reading
But the challenging reality of being death and resurrection people is that even as we anticipate resurrection, we face death. Lent 5A. John 11:1-45, Ezekiel 37:1-14, Romans 8:6-11 Grace, mercy and peace to you in the name of the one who calls us forth and gives us life. Amen. Here we… Continue reading
Before he has PERFORMED in any way, God declares Jesus beloved. This declaration is what strengthens and equips Jesus for the struggles and realities of his life and ministry. He can love others, because he knows himself to be loved. He can offer healing to others, because he knows himself to be whole. He… Continue reading
This is who and what you are. You are the light. Being a light is not action you take to deserve or prove your rightness before God. Becoming a light is action God takes. You are the light of the world. Some days you may feel like it, most days you probably don’t. But it’s still… Continue reading
Sermon–Christ the King, Year C Luke 23:33-43Zion Lutheran Church, Beausejour, Manitoba Today’s gospel is all about challenging expectations and holding on to a bigger picture. In that sense, it’s a particularly appropriate reading for the end of the year. As we flip our calendars from October to November, and pretty soon to… Continue reading