Grand openings are always big events - fireworks, balloons, searchlights - all ways to grab attention. Come, look here. Something new is happening! So it is with Pentecost, the grand opening of the Church as it moves from 120 fearful disciples locked up in a room to a Gospel movement that in one day and…
Jesus prays for His Church. Nowhere is this more profoundly revealed to us than in the high priestly prayer of Jesus in the upper room on the night of His betrayal into death. This is the room where He washed the disciples’ feet as a servant; this is the room where He instituted…
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. (John 15:9)
The scene is the upper room, Jesus with His disciples. It is evening, the evening of His betrayal leading to His arrest, trial and crucifixion. He washed their feet. He gave them…
An angel of the Lord sends Philip chasing after a chariot. A eunuch from Ethiopia is reading the prophet Isaiah. He hears the good news of Jesus and believes. There is water in the wilderness, and he is baptized. The Gospel is messy business, isn’t it?
We don’t like it…
“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11-18)
“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” (1 John 3:16)
Of all the images of Jesus…
“Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called Didymus (ie the Twin), was not with them when Jesus came.” That’s one of the more intriguing verses in this morning’s Gospel. Where was Thomas on Easter? Why wasn’t Thomas with the rest of the disciples in that upper room on that first Easter evening?…
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
So goes the cry throughout the world on this most holy of Sundays. The angel proclaims the good news. “He is not here; He is risen.” Eyewitnesses see Him. Not just one but many, over 500, to the women…
Passion: Intense zeal, emotion, anger, love. Original meaning: suffering and death, martyrdom. The Passion of our Lord is His passion to save you.
The day begins in triumph. Hosannas and palm branches. “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your…
Walking on the road to Jerusalem, Jesus was charting the course for His Calvary. Three times He laid out the battle plan in full detail. “We’re going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes; they will condemn Him to death, and…
Fire snakes were loose in the camp of Israel. Slithering all over the place. Hiding in dark corners, slipping in under tents and into sleeping bags. Venomous and deadly. People were dying all over the camp of Israel. The Lord sent those snakes; they were His judgment over the grumbling…