Temptation as Gift
For Sunday, February 14, 2016 – Luke 4:1-13 Even if we fine tune our minds to their most compassionate settings, it is nearly impossible to comprehend the extent of the suffering Jesus experiences in this potent confrontation with evil. However or whatever or whomever we imagine Satan to be—whether physical incarnation or mental apparition—this adversary is anything and everything in […]
Big Moments
For Sunday, February 7, 2016 – Luke 9:28-43a Memorable moments of heightened awareness, “mountaintop moments,” cannot be manufactured. They break in upon us, surprise us, usually leave us feeling shaken and vulnerable. In such times we see that life holds more potential, more mystery than our rational minds comprehend. Mountaintop moments are awesome reminders of God’s reality, but are […]
Blessing for Whom?
For Sunday, January 31, 2016 – Luke 4:21-30 Back in his home synagogue, Jesus reads Isaiah’s familiar words: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, […]
Filled with Power
For Sunday, January 24, 2016 – Luke 4:14-21 When Jesus returns to Galilee, he is filled with the power of the Spirit. He does not claim to be filled with the power of the Spirit; he simply is. Sometimes we spend more time making claims about ourselves than just being ourselves. We can claim to be not enough […]
