Monthly Archives: March 2017

Unglued Church

Resurrection or resuscitation? Without change, there is no resurrection. By Susan Rothenberg   If you go to a church which follows the Revised Common Lectionary, this Sunday you may hear (or preach) a sermon based upon the story of Mary, Martha and their brother Lazarus (John 11:1-44). Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from the dead is the last of… Read more »

Meeting Jesus: March 31 Pharisee Host

Friday of the Fourth Sunday in Lent Read Luke 14:1–6, 15–24 I invited that young rabbi to my home to share the Sabbath meal tonight. Immediately, he disregarded the Commandments by healing someone who didn’t even ask for it. I’m convinced he acted simply to spite us. We Pharisees seethed as he invoked Sabbath livestock provisions… Read more »

Meeting Jesus: March 30 Woman Healed of a Crippling Disease

Thursday of the Fourth Sunday in Lent Read Luke 13:10–17 Slowly, awkwardly, I entered the synagogue. Each Sabbath, my back seemed a little more crooked, and the pain seemed a little more intense. I’d have given my eyeteeth for a little relief, but this seemed to be my lot in life. Today I noticed a new… Read more »

Meeting Jesus: March 29 Lazarus

Wednesday of the Fourth Sunday in Lent Read Luke 10:38–42 I love my sisters. But sometimes I don’t know what to do with them. Take today. As Jesus and his disciples passed through Bethany, we welcomed them into our home. As they were relaxing, we struck up a conversation. It’s one thing to hear Jesus teach… Read more »

justleros: more than nonsense / más que disparates

Let us go to him A Revised Common Lectionary resource for April 2 by Magdalena I. García Then Jesus told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.’ —John 11:14-15 Read the full lectionary passages here Let… Read more »

Meeting Jesus: March 28 Expert in the Law

Tuesday of the Fourth Sunday in Lent Read Luke 10:25–37 Stories reached my ears of a Galilean rabbi who’s taken Israel by storm. Since he happened to be in my area today, I decided to test his theology with a question: What is required to attain eternal life? In rabbinical fashion, he answered my question with… Read more »

Living in Between

A psalmist in the pews? Finding places for different voices By Abby King-Kaiser  This Sunday, a student came up to me after worship with a serious look on her face. Very serious. I-have-something-to-say serious. She spent has spent this year as a small group leader, our first small group in Common Ground, our Protestant worship… Read more »

Meeting Jesus: March 27 Man Healed of Blindness

Monday of the Fourth Sunday in Lent Read John 9 (1–25) I was born blind, but later discovered I was “invisible.” Since I couldn’t look at others, they’d overlook me. Nobody realized that my emotions and intellect fully functioned, even if my eyes didn’t. Until today. A stranger healed me; when I washed off the mud… Read more »

Meeting Jesus: March 26 John

Fourth Sunday in Lent Read Luke 9:28–36 God revealed our master’s glory to Peter, James, and me this evening. Our prayers seemed typical, yet tonight Jesus’ face and clothing suddenly shone like Moses’ did when he came down from Sinai. Indeed, Moses himself — with Elijah — appeared, and spoke with Jesus of his upcoming ordeal… Read more »

Meeting Jesus: March 25 Peter

Saturday of the Third Week in Lent Read Matthew 16:13–28  On the way to Philippi we’re talking (surprising, I know), and Jesus asks us who we think he is. I start thinking about what’s happened since that random guy pulled me off my boat. I had no idea he’d become such a cultural force — or… Read more »