Text: Luke 15: 11-31 (the Parable of the Prodigal Son) During Lent, we journey to Jerusalem with Jesus. This can feel like a dark season because it ends in Jesus’ death. But the path is illuminated by the light of Easter, which shines back at us. This light is the promise of resurrection. The Parable … [Read more…]
Text: Luke 4:1-13 (Jesus tempted in the wilderness) Lent is supposed to be a season of silence, fasting, and prayer. As in today’s story of Jesus in the wilderness, we are invited to spend the 40 days and nights of Lent in contemplation with just the Holy Spirit, and perhaps the devil, for company. This … [Read more…]
Text: Mark 14:1-9 (Jesus is anointed for burial) The journey of Lent is called “the narrow path” because Jesus says “the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life” (Matthew 7:13). But is there one path or many? In today’s reading, Jesus describes an act of oil being poured on his … [Read more…]
Text: Mark 8:37-45 (“take up your cross”) Peter gets a bad rap in the gospels. He is the first person Jesus calls as a disciple. He has more conversations with Jesus than anyone else. He is present at every turn in the story, from the mission in Galilee, to the Transfiguration that Bruce preached about … [Read more…]
Text: John 11;1-45 (Jesus raises Lazarus) Why does Jesus weep as he approaches the tomb of Lazarus? As John tells the story, Jesus is going to bring Lazarus back to life. So why weep? Perhaps Jesus weeps in sympathy with Mary and Martha, the sisters of his dead friend Lazarus. Perhaps he weeps for the … [Read more…]
Texts: Genesis 3 (“the Fall”); Matthew 4:1-11 (Jesus tempted in the desert) Last week, we marked the start of Lent in a couple of ways here at Mill Woods United Church. Yesterday after the Bread Run, a group of volunteers changed the tall banners at the front of the sanctuary from Epiphany Gold to Lenten … [Read more…]
Context: a “Minister’s Reflection” submitted to the late February issue of “Connections,” the newsletter of Mill Woods United Church Love is our most sacred value. We worship the God who is Love. Our ministry is centrally about love. And one of the tasks of a minister is to allow themselves to be loved by a … [Read more…]