Resurrection life

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14  • Psalm 130  • Romans 8:6-11  • John 11:1-45

From Ezekiel's valley of "dry bones," to St. Paul's testimony of the life giving Spirit which raised Christ, to this week's gospel account in John of the raising of Lazarus, and as Jesus makes his way to Jerusalem and the cross, we learn something of resurrected life. Jesus tells us that he, who is the bread of life and whose blood is the cup of salvation from which all who drink will never thirst again, is "the resurrection and the life, and that all who believe in [him], even though they die, will live."

What is the resurrected life? See "Resurrected Hopes," by Craig Barnes.  

Read James Liggett's powerful "Death." He says we are told first that death is stronger than we are and that we have neither knowledge about nor power over death. And then we are told that Jesus is Lord, Lord of all—Lord of life and of death. He says we have a choice as we face death. We must choose to despair or to trust; to give up or to go on; to abandon hope, or to let go in faith.

In Liggett's words, "For we see all that the world sees, and yet we see more. We see that the dry bones, even our dry bones, can live once more. And we see that the word of Jesus has power. “Come out,” the Lord calls. “Come out” into different life, into new life. “Come out” into life unknown and unexplained. “Come out” in trust and in hope."

When it doesn't make sense, or isn't fair

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13  • Psalm 23  • Ephesians 5:8-14  • John 9:1-41


Today's gospel is the account of Jesus healing the man born blind at birth. The religious tradition of the day stated the cause of his blindness was sin, this man's sin, or that of his parents. in "Who Sinned?" Jesus rejects that explanation, and says that he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. Maybe we're looking for answers as if we, ourselves, are blind. The Rev. James Liggett talks about tragedy and unfairness in "Who Sinned?" and says Jesus tells us two things to help us deal with life's tragedy's, inexplicable pain, disease, circumstances and the unfairness we see. What did Jesus tell us? 

In "Confusion," Jassy Bostock asks what enables one to see Jesus, to really see for that matter, and what makes one unable to see.


In "Now I See," Debi Thomas examines this Sunday's gospel in light of the current COVID-19 crisis, noting that no one, not even the man's parents, rejoices that the man is healed, and tells us what it takes "to see" in life's challenges. What does it take to see when things don't make sense, or aren't fair? Click the links to read the Scripture and these three articles.

The Woman at the Well

Scripture: Exodus 17:1-7  • Psalm 95  • Romans 5:1-11  • John 4:5-42

Want to know who Jesus is? What God is like? What truth and honesty look like? How about strength and hope in times of weakness and vulnerability? Human dignity? What real grace is? One of the best, if not the best, source for this is the story of Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. 

Samaritans were considered anathema by the Jews. The Samaritans were a blend of all kinds of people—made up of Israelites who were not exiled when the Northern Kingdom was destroyed in 722 BCE—of various different nationalities whom the Assyrians had resettled in the area. The Assyrians did this as an attempt to ensure that Israel’s national dream could not come true. And a Jew speaking with a Samaritan, and a woman, was taboo at the time.

Debie Thomas' account of "The Woman at the Well," leaves me with a sense of wonder and astonishment at her incites, and at the same time grounded in the realities of Jesus' time, and our time today.  She is well worth reading. Reading her, I experience something I can only describe as the wonder a child experiences, or a light bulb turning on. For me, it is the same feeling as discovering a nuanced meaning in parsing an original language.

Gifts, born of the Spirit

This second Sunday of Lent, we encounter Nicodemus' meeting with Jesus and iconic staples of the Christian faith - John 3:16 and verse 3, being "born from above, or again, anew - γεννηθῇ ἄνωθεν ," according to the texts. Nicodemus is a respected member of the Sanhedrin who recognizes there is something more to Jesus than being a good teacher. In John 3:16, we are told of a loving God, so loving that he is willing to give and  sacrifice his Son so that all who "believe" in him shall be saved. Jesus' very name means He who saves. Read Michael Toy's wonderful homily, "Gifts." 

What does Jesus mean when he says "believes," and earlier by the words "born  from above,again, or anew?" Too often we either simplify this to a mere statement of individual faith, or over-complicate it. Debie Thomas, in "Where the Wind Blows," examines and explores the depths of Jesus' teaching and love, and the demands of "believing." What does "believing" mean?

Believing and being born from above is not as easy as saying Jesus is Lord, and Jesus gives no easy answers to Nicodemus' questions according to The Rev. Marshall A. Jolly's "Nicodemus,"For it was a long journey begun in the dark of night - much like Lent. But there was a life giving, fulfilling change from doubts and questions to the man who claimed the body of Christ when the disciples all fled.

Tempted

Scripture:  Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7  • Psalm 32  •  Romans 5:12-19  •  Matthew 4:1-11

This Sunday our Scripture is the tales of two Adams. The first Adam in the garden of Eden, and Jesus, the second Adam, in the wilderness. Both are tempted.

As we begin Lent, we study the significance of the temptation of Christ, and our own temptations. Both Jesus, and we, as he tells us, are God's beloved. Why are God's beloved tempted? Why does the Spirit lead Jesus into the desert, and why do we find ourselves in wilderness situations? Debie Thomas' "Tempted" is the best consideration of today's gospel I have read. What can we take away from this week's lesson?

Transformed by the light of Christ

Scripture: Exodus 24:12-18  •  Psalm 2 or Psalm 99  •  2 Peter 1:16-21  •  Matthew 17:1-9

This last Sunday of the Epiphany season we see the light shining brightest in Christ in his glory in the Transfiguration narrative of Matthew. With Moses and Elijah, Jesus is shown to fulfill (complete) the law and the prophets in all wholeness, reconciling us to God as God in man made manifest.

Just as the love and forgiveness of God through his Christ helps transform us today (See The Rev. Anne Howard's "A Word in Time,"), Christ, in all his glory, who took on all the pain, suffering and sin of man, is more than man (See Fred B. Craddock's "Christ is Not as We Are"), and is to be worshipped and gloried with the Father and Holy Spirit, one God, true light from true light, the Blessed Trinity.

And yet He is with us, and will draw us up, in our journey no matter what the circumstances (See Stephen Paul Bouman's "Marias Full of Grace").

As we come down off the mountain, will we come down with Jesus to complete the work in his kingdom? Will we be transformed to see as God sees? The Rev. Warren Thomas Swenson tells us how in "Look for Jesus."

In "Is It Good For Us To Be Here?" Debi Thomas helps us recognize Jesus when we don't have mountaintop experiences.

New Commandments - New Community

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 or Sirach 15:15-20  •  Psalm 119:1-8  •  1 Corinthians 3:1-9  •  Matthew 5:21-37

Our readings this week refer to commandments. Jesus gives us new commandments, and radical they are, or are they? He says, "You have heard it was said..." followed by a commandment, and then says, "but I say to you..." followed by seemingly extreme demands. For example: commandment: "You shall not murder..." followed by: "if you are angry with a brother or sister, you are liable to judgment." Or, "Do not commit adultery..." followed by "whoever looks at a woman with lust has committed adultery in his heart, "If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell." 

 What is Jesus telling us? Some call his remarks "antitheses" to the commandments, but he has told us he has come not to destroy the law, but to fulfill the law. It helps to read the gospel in context. What is Jesus doing here? Who is he addressing? Both Debie Thomas in "But I Say To You...," and The Rev. Josh Bowron in "All Sinners," put this into context. They say it must be read with Jesus' life and in the context of the creation of a new community of faith and action, not in a transactional context. The Rev. Warren Swenson in "Mining The Riches" says Jesus is drawing deeper meaning from the law. What do you think?This is a good lesson to prepare for Lent.