Scripture: Luke 6:20-21 Jesus raised his eyes to his disciples and said: “Happy are you who are poor, because God’s kingdom is yours. Happy are you who hunger now, because you will be satisfied. Happy are you who weep now, because you will laugh…” Thought for the Day: How many people have heard these words and thought to themselves, “Nonsense!” Or maybe said out loud, “Rubbish!” How can
Scripture: Luke 6:12-16 During that time, Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night long. At daybreak, he called together his disciples. He chose twelve of them whom he called apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter; his brother Andrew; James; John; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus; Simon, who was called a zealot; Judas the son of James;
Prayer for the Week: O Great God of Heaven, our lives are overwhelmed with your loving kindness that took on flesh and came into the world. We reflect on this ancient gift, and though Jesus walked the earth two thousand years ago, his power to change lives is not confined to the past. His Spirit, which is your Spirit, has never seen time or context or culture as
Scripture: Luke 6:1-3 One Sabbath, as Jesus was going through the wheat fields, his disciples were picking the heads of wheat, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. Some Pharisees said, “Why are you breaking the Sabbath law?” Jesus replied, “Haven’t you read what David and his companions did when they were hungry?” Thought for the Day: I believe scripture is both contextual and able to speak
Scripture: Luke 5:27-30 Afterward, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at a kiosk for collecting taxes. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Levi got up, left everything behind, and followed him. Then Levi threw a great banquet for Jesus in his home. A large number of tax collectors and others sat down to eat with them. The Pharisees and their legal experts grumbled
Scripture: Luke 5:26 All the people were beside themselves with wonder. Filled with awe, they glorified God, saying, “We’ve seen unimaginable things today.” Thought for the Day: I love the reaction of the people in this passage. Jesus has just healed a man, and the crowd is awe-struck. Or are they? The Greek word we translate as ‘awe’ in this passage is the word phobos. You can probably
Scripture: Luke 5:21-23 The legal experts and Pharisees began to mutter among themselves, “Who is this who insults God? Only God can forgive sins!” Jesus recognized what they were discussing and responded, “Why do you fill your minds with these questions? Which is easier—to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? Thought for the Day: Some people had brought a friend to Jesus
Scripture: Luke 5:15-16 News of him spread even more and huge crowds gathered to listen and to be healed from their illnesses. But Jesus would withdraw to deserted places for prayer. Thought for the Day: In this part of the story, Jesus has just healed a man and told him to go show himself to the priests – the necessary step to be officially welcomed back into the
Scripture: Luke 5:12 Jesus was in one of the towns where there was also a man covered with a skin disease. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged, “Lord, if you want, you can make me clean.” Thought for the Day: A friend of mine was serving as a hospital chaplain early in his career. One night, a gunshot victim was brought to the
Prayer for the Week: We hear your invitation, Lord God. It meets us as a whisper that appears to have no source; it comes upon us in the rustling of leaves along a path; it is felt upon our skin like a warm breath revealing your presence. In other moments, your invitation is a bit more concrete and mundane. It comes in an email that entices our curiosity;