-
·
Ephphatha – Be Opened
Ephphatha (Day 23 of A Simple Lent) Monday Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha’, that is, ‘Be opened.’ The daily lectionary actually carved up one of the most challenging moments in Jesus’s ministry, in which, giving us the conclusion today before moving on to one of the seemingly most typical. In…
-
·
Defile a Person
Defile a Person (Day 22 of A Simple Lent) Saturday I’m becoming increasingly conscious of the presence and absence of a single letter in worship. Such a small thing, almost imperceptible. It shows up and completely changes our intentions. Most of us don’t even see it. A radical transformation of intention and expectation comes from a single…
-
·
They Did Not Understand About the Loaves
They Did Not Understand About the Loaves (Day 21 of A Simple Lent) Friday This is one of the most pointed moments in the gospel of Mark: Jesus has provided for the multitudes at a time when the disciples were exhausted and needed a break and Jesus wanted to give it to them, but he…
-
·
All Ate and Were Filled
All Ate and Were Filled (Day 20 of A Simple Lent) Thursday Outside of the Passion story or maybe Luke’s version of the birth story, there are few stories about Jesus that are as universally known as the Feeding of the Multitudes. If I were to ask you to tell the story, you probably could. It…
-
·
Idol In the World
Idol In the World (Day 19 of A Simple Lent) Wednesday Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that ‘no idol in the world really exists’, and that ‘there is no God but one.’ What do you suppose is the question Paul is trying to answer? It always helps me to…
-
·
Made Himself Known
Made Himself Known (Day 18 of A Simple Lent) Tuesday After an impassioned plea by Judah, Joseph couldn’t take it anymore. He couldn’t keep the ruse up. He had to tell his brothers that it was him. They embrace. They cry tears of joy. They are reconciled. If we read the Joseph story with literal eyes,…
-
·
Why Trouble the Teacher
Why Trouble the Teacher (Day 17 of A Simple Lent) Monday One of the most profound tools in the evangelist’s toolbox is the literary frame. It’s surprising, really when you think about it. You’re telling a pretty amazing story about a dude who can heal people and control the weather. The substance of the story…
-
·
How They Beg
How They Beg (Day 16 of A Simple Lent) Saturday After the craziness in the boat, in which the disciples forget rule #1 of discipleship: do what your rabbi does, we hit land and they find themselves in a graveyard with a crazy man. I’m not sure why I love this story, but I do. Maybe you…