The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want..... those familiar words to Psalm 23 are part of our focus today. But notice the pronouns in that phrase...my, I. When we visualize walking with Jesus the shepherd, it's often just you and Jesus. But the gospel calls us to be inclusive, to invite others to know God's love. Who are you called to invite?
Gospel reading: John 10:1-10
Psalm 23
Why does Jesus choose to ride a donkey on Palm Sunday? A horse would certainly be more majestic; a camel would imply being part of wealthy caravan; even an ibex has a hint of the exotic. But a stubborn, independent, homely creature? What does Jesus choice say about him and about us?
Gospel reading: Mark 11:1-11
Ever feel overwhelmed? Beyond stressed? Sure that everything is completely and totally falling apart? Yes, the Psalm writer has been there too. The writer found help in remembering God's steadfast love. Listen to what a difference that made for the writer, and perhaps, for you too.
Old Testament reading: Psalm 130
Who is Jeus, truly? Today's text gives us a glimpse of Jesus as truly God and truly human. How do the disciples react? How do we react?
Gospel reading: Matthew 17:1-9
Seeking to be an authentic Christian can be, indeed most days it is, a challenge. What does God want me to do with.....or about that........ Here Jesus adds another layer of complexity to God's commandments. Why? To drive us to the cross, to remind us that without God's love and forgiveness found there, we can do nothing.
Gospel reading: Matthew 5:21-37
What does Jesus ask us, his disciples, to do? Here, in this text from Matthew, Jesus announces that we are the light of the world. With that gift comes a responsibility to let our light shine before others.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5: 13-20
What does God really want from us human beings? The prophet Micah phrases it this way, "to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God". Let's share stories of people we know who have done this...maybe somewhat imperfectly. And in sharing these stories, we help people to see that walking with God can be done...and by regular people...like you and like me.
Readings: Micah 6:1-8, I Corinthians 1:25-31
Have you ever imagined what our world would be like if we lived in peace? Isaiah, the Old Testament prophet, has a vision of such a world....even as, in his own time and place, his country was facing imminent destruction by an expanding empire. Would his people listen and change their ways? Will we?
Reading: Isaiah 2:4b-5
When your world seems to be falling apart, what do you do? Jesus's words today are both a challenge and a comfort.
Gospel reading: Luke 21:5-19
Who, me? Yes, you! You are called to be a saint on this day when we remember all the saints who surround us in this world and the next.
Readings: Ephesians 1:11-23, Luke 6:20-31
