I am the vine, you are the branches. Abide in me as I abide in you.

Scripture: Acts 8:26-40  • Psalm 22:25-31  • 1 John 4:7-21  • John 15:1-8

He is the vine, we are the branches. Jesus uses this analogy in telling us that we are to abide in him, as he abides in us. Why does he tell us this? What does he mean? See Sister Kym Harris' Reflection, and Bob Stuhlmann's "Staying Open to the Source? John 15"

 What is it to Abide? Why is this important to us as Christians? To society? Read The Rev. Debie Thomas' "Abide."

The Good Shepherd calls us by name

Scripture: Acts 4:5-12  • Psalm 23  • 1 John 3:16-24  • John 10:11-18

This is Good Shepherd Sunday. We read two of the most beloved and well known verses in Psalm 23 and one of the "I am" sayings recorded by John, this one being "I am the Good Shepherd." Why does Jesus say he is the Good Shepherd? Sheep are often viewed as mindless followers, apt to get lost, docile and dull. We are the sheep he has come to tend, and we have value. This God calls us by name, and cares for us. But there is more - much is expected of us. See The Rev. James Leggett's "Wool and Mutton," and The Rev. Sharron Blezard's "Rambling in the Ruts of Righteousness."

Will we recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd calling us by name? See Sister Kym Harris' "Exposition" How do we call out to others as Christians? Why is that of significance? See Sister Kym Harris' "Reflection."

Soul Food

Scripture: Acts 3:12-19  • Psalm 4  • 1 John 3:1-7  • Luke 24:36b-48

In Luke's gospel account, the resurrected Jesus appears once again to his disciples who are described as being "startled, terrified, and "while in their joy, disbelieving and wondering." Jesus offers them Peace, and asks them to share a meal of broiled fish with him before commissioning them to spread the good news. Why? What is it about sharing a meal which brings people with many differences, doubts, fears and feelings together? How can sharing a meal help us see and experience the presence of Christ? See The Rev. Sharron Riessinger Blezard's "Potlucks, Comfort Food and Faith." What a joy to celebrate and receive the Holy Eucharist each week in communion with God's children where all are welcome!

How can we experience the earth moving sensation of resurrection as the disciples did? See Sister Kym Harris' "Exposition," and "Reflection."

See why The Rev. Rick Morley loves preaching about the resurrected Christ, who can be anywhere, and is still present as our brother in body and spirit in "not as outcasts - a reflection on Luke 24:36b-48."

Food for the soul? You bet! As Sharron Riessinger Blezard says "Come to Christ’s table. Come as you are. Come hungry, come helpless, come hopeful. Eat and live to go and tell. We are the witnesses. Whether bold or fearful, let us be full and faithful in our going and telling and inviting. There is room for all and plenty of comfort food to share."

Overwhelming the Overwhelmed - with Love

Scripture: Acts 4:32-35  • Psalm 133  • 1 John 1:1-2:2  • John 20:19-31

The second Sunday of Easter, we see the disciples behind locked doors, afraid and lost, in short, overwhelmed by what has happened to the one to whom they gave the last three years of their lives, seeing miraculous healings, mercy, kindness and love, and defiance of the entrenched religious institutions of the day, followed by his humiliating and violent death by crucifixion, as if he were a common criminal. And then Jesus appears to them. They were afraid even then. Why? Were they afraid because they abandoned him, and what he might say, or do to them? How does the presence of Jesus help the overwhelmed disciples, and us? Jesus didn't just give us peace for ourselves as individuals, for our own internal self fulfillment or self-satisfaction. He sends us out, as his Father sent him to us. To do what? See The Rev. Kate Matthews' "Love is a Response to Grace."

And what about Thomas, called the twin, or Doubting Thomas? We don't give Thomas enough credit. He is the only one bold enough to be out from behind the locked doors, to ask questions, and to seek truth, no matter where it takes him.

Jesus greets and gives his disciples with the Peace which only he can give, the Holy Spirit to inspire and counsel us, and the will and power to deal with all that overwhelms us, especially in the times in which we live. The great power of release in forgiveness can free us to act, unfettered from chains of fear, doubt, addiction, and whatever causes us to be broken and unreconciled to God and each other.

How do we keep from being overwhelmed, and bring peace, love and reconciliation into a world of violence, greed, hunger and suffering? Read Sister Kym Harris' "Exposition," and "Reflection."

Rolling Stones - an Easter message

Scripture: Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 or Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18 or Mark 16:1-8

The Rev. Canon Frank Logue, in his homily for Easter, "Look Again" talks about rolling away stones. He begins with Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, going to the tomb on the third day after the crucifixion to give Jesus the proper Jewish burial he was denied. They encountered the stone blocking entrance to the tomb in which Jesus’ body had been laid. They “looked again,” (in the perfect tense in Greek), and found the stone rolled away. Logue discusses how they reacted at that time, and later, as they once again “looked again.” The difference in what they did (fleeing) is seeing through the eyes of the world, seeing problems and obstacles, without hope; and seeing through the eyes of faith, and turning over the obstacles and problems to God who has already (perfect tense) provided the way through it all, and who has given us the courage, strength, conviction, purpose... and hope, to move ahead, and follow where Jesus leads us. 

Compare this with the ancient Greek myth of Sisyphus who defied the gods and put Death in chains so that no human needed to die. When Death was eventually liberated and it came time for Sisyphus himself to die, he concocted a deceit which let him escape from the underworld. After finally capturing Sisyphus, the Greek gods decided on his punishment for all eternity. He would have to push a rock up a mountain; upon reaching the top, the rock would roll down again, leaving Sisyphus to start over. Without hope, condemned to repeat a meaningless task, forever.

What are the stones which need to be rolled away in our lives? Can we look again, as God sees us, and the world? The good news of Easter is, we can. With hope. Thanks be to God, through Christ, our Lord. Let us follow where he leads.

How, and why, did Jesus’ life of peace end in such a violent death?

Scripture: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Mark 14:1-15:47

"How did this happen? How did Jesus’ life of peace end in such a violent death? We stand at the edge of this moment, looking on in horror and confusion — just as Jesus’ followers did on the day he was crucified. The violence we have seen is numbing: it robs us of the ability to think clearly... The familiar formula — that Jesus died for our sins — raises more questions than it answers. First, exactly how is Jesus’ death connected with our forgiveness? Why does this terrible thing lead to that wonderful thing? And who is it that wants this sacrifice anyway?" The Rev. Jason Cox in his "Sacrifice: Sunday of the Passion,"  raises these questions, and provides an answer. What are your thoughts? 

This Voice Has Come for Your Sake, Not Mine

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34  • Psalm 51:1-12 or Psalm 119:9-16  •Hebrews 5:5-10  • John 12:20-33

This week we see Jesus come to terms with the cross he must bear, in all of his humanity and divinity. Like the old gospel song "I have decided to follow Jesus... the world behind me, the cross before me, no turning back, no turning back," The Rev. Robert Cornwall, in "The Hour Has Come - Lectionary Reflection for Lent 5b," offers thoughts about what it means to put ego, ambition, pride and selfishness behind us, as we learn to take up our crosses and follow Jesus.

In this week's gospel, Jesus knows a cruel, humiliating death is imminent, on the path he has chosen. We see him in all his humanity, and then he, and we, hear a voice, saying, in response to Jesus' plea, "Father, glorify your name," "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." Jesus says to his disciples, and to us, "This voice has come for your sake, not mine." What does he mean? What voices do we listen to today? Whose voice do we hear? What are the consequences, the blessings?  Read The Rev. Kirk Kubicek's "This Voice Has Come For Your Sake, Not Mine." 

In "Who Are We Looking For," Debie Thomas cuts through chase, "Jesus willingly took the violence, the contempt, and the hatred of this world and absorbed them all into his own body.  He chose to be the victim, the scapegoat, the sacrifice.  He refused to waver in his message of universal love, grace, and liberation, knowing full well that the message would cost him his life.  He declared solidarity for all time with those who are abandoned, colonized, oppressed, accused, imprisoned, beaten, mocked, and murdered.  He burst open like a seed so that new life would grow and replenish the earth.  He took an instrument of torture and turned it into a vehicle of hospitality and communion for all people, everywhere.  He loved and he loved and he loved, all the way to the end.  “When I am lifted up, I will draw all people to myself.”

In "The Voice," The Rev. Luz Cabrera Montes tells us,"There will be days when we will not get all of the work done, days when we will not know which voices to listen to – but God will remain with us. We must take our time when listening to the voices around us and decide where we can find God in them. We must decide to love because we know that hate is too much to carry. We must continue to say, “We wish to see Jesus.” Let us continue to boldly claim this for our lives and for our world... and we are not alone.