A Podcast about Living Freely in a World Given Back to Us
Psalm 56; Jeremiah 1:11-19; Luke 19:41-44
No one wants to be the bearer of bad news. To be the one who has to knock on the door and inform someone that their loved one has just died, to have to sit down with a patient and deliver the diagnosis of cancer, to serve as the advisor who explains that plans have not met expectations and futures look bleak. Who is up for such tasks? And who gladly does them? Continue reading “Bearers of Bad News”
Luke 2:21-40
On the fortieth day of the incarnation Mary and Joseph, as a faithful Jewish couple, presented their firstborn Son at the temple and “bought” him back with a sacrifice of a two small birds. This is known as the “Presentation of Our Lord” and is celebrated in the church on February 2nd. It deserves more than one day. So we continue our contemplation on this sacred event we started a few days ago. Continue reading “Presentation of Our Lord, Part Five”
Luke 2:21-40
On the fortieth day of the incarnation Mary and Joseph, as a faithful Jewish couple, presented their firstborn Son at the temple and “bought” him back with a sacrifice of a two small birds. This is known as the “Presentation of Our Lord” and is celebrated in the church on February 2nd. It deserves more than one day. So we continue our contemplation on this sacred event we started a few days ago. Continue reading “Presentation of Our Lord, Part Four”
Luke 2:21-40
On the fortieth day of the incarnation Mary and Joseph, as a faithful Jewish couple, presented their firstborn Son at the temple and “bought” him back with a sacrifice of a two small birds. This is known as the “Presentation of Our Lord” and is celebrated in the church on February 2nd. It deserves more than one day. So we continue our contemplation on this sacred event we started a couple of days ago. Continue reading “Presentation of Our Lord, Part Three”
Luke 2:21-40
On the fortieth day of the incarnation Mary and Joseph, as a faithful Jewish couple, presented their firstborn Son at the temple and “bought” him back with a sacrifice of a two small birds. This is known as the “Presentation of Our Lord” and is celebrated in the church on February 2nd. It deserves more than one day. So we continue our contemplation on this sacred event we started yesterday. Continue reading “Presentation of Our Lord, Part Two”
Luke 2:21-40
On the fortieth day of the incarnation Mary and Joseph, as a faithful Jewish couple, presented their firstborn Son at the temple and “bought” him back with a sacrifice of a two small birds. This is known as the “Presentation of Our Lord” and is celebrated in the church on February 2nd. It deserves more than one day. So we are going to stretch our contemplation of the event over a few days. Continue reading “The Presentation of Our Lord”
When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
(Luke 5:20)
It is a sweet gospel. God’s favor is to be savored. This divine favor, this gospel, is underappreciated, however. Shame on us. Do we not realize what it took? Do we not understand that God became man not because we were so worthy but out of pure love? We take it for granted, no doubt about it but its sweetness never depended on our appreciation of it. It is a part of its sweetness. This divine favor given by our Friend. And not a friend like a buddy but a friend in high places who befriended us at the moment we had none. There is nothing about us that would attract Jesus to us as a friend. This is not a reciprocal relationship. He is our Friend by grace. Continue reading ““Friend, Your Sins Are Forgiven.””
2 Corinthians 4:5-12
It is not wrong to speak this way, but I will admit it drives me nuts. I will also admit it is more of a “me problem” than anything else. It bother me to hear “My ministry” or “Your ministry.” I don’t like the terms. As if this thing we do in the church, this thing we participate in as pastors, belongs to us. As if it was merely a career. I think it is also true of our callings out in the world. “My career, my job, my occupation,” the terms bug me a little bit. As if there was not something divine going on here. As if it belonged to us. As if the end goal was you. Continue reading “My Ministry? My Vocation?”