The name of the pool or intermittent spring meant house of mercy and/or flowing water. It was a place associated with ritual, bringing sheep to the temple in Jerusalem. According to tradition, on occasion an angel of the Lord would be sent to “stir the...
Children’s sermon: As Jesus prepares to leave them, he addresses his audience as little children. How does a caring adult address little children? With a softened look and voice, by getting down on their level, by helping them to be heard, but explaining things in...
What does it mean to hear? Jesus says, “I told you, but you did not believe.” The sound of his voice traveled in waves. Particles in the atmosphere vibrated as his words transported energy, but no one heard what he said. Hearing, in a literal...
What verbs describe what Jesus does? At the start, he simply appears, showing himself in this way: while standing on the beach, he engages in two-way conversation. He asks a question, then makes a suggestion. An invitation to breakfast soon follows that reads, “BYOF, bring your...
First of all I’d like to thank Brad for choosing songs with lyrics that tie in so well. Tie in not only to this week’s gospel text, but to what’s happening in the world on a large scale, both near and far away: the problems...
What exactly does the church proclaim by way of this gospel text? Well, to start with, it makes numerous claims. For one, by stating this all happened on “the first day of the week,” Sunday became the regular chosen day to celebrate Easter and every...
Matthew, Mark and John use the word, “Hosanna” in their written accounts of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Luke does not. He avoids it. For just a minute, let’s focus on the word Hosanna’s origin. It is Greek via late Latin, a created abbreviation of...
It’s six days before Passover and Jesus returns to the home of close friends. Ahhh, friends. Not people you’re generally stuck with, but ones you choose to hang with. They may be coworkers, fellow students, neighbors or relatives. But, what best defines a friend is...
For years, this parable has been mislabeled the prodigal son. In fact, Luke places this parable third in line to the lost coin and lost sheep. Never did he intend to focus on one son more than the other, placing emphasis on immoral behavior, casting...
What does Jesus say right off the bat? The degree to which people suffer is not a mirror. The degree to which people suffer does not distinguish them as better or worse, better or worse off perhaps, but not better people or worse sinners. That’s...