We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on May 21, 2019.
Reading During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them. We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshipper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.’ And she prevailed upon us. (Acts 16: 9-15) Reflection You never know what may happen because of what you do. Sure, you may think of negative instances when that has been the case. But your kind words can also be remembered for years to come, too. In our story today, we read about Lydia. She hears the words that Paul preaches. Her heart was opened by God and she changed direction. She became a follower. And it was because of what Paul said. Be open to sharing with others. Invite them to come to church. Tell them your faith stories. Relate where you see God. You never know what may happen! --Chad Hershberger Prayer Help hearts to be open to hear your Word, God. May we be your voice in this world. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present.
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Today, we look at a Day 5 text from this year’s summer curriculum, “Boundless: God Beyond Measure.”
Reading Again, he began to teach beside the sea. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the sea and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching, he said to them: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” And he said, “Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” (Mark 4:1-9) Reflection Most of the time Jesus didn’t talk about facts but instead shared stories that people could relate to and easily remember and share. Speaking to people accustomed to growing food, Jesus told a story they would understand about seeds and soil as an example of God’s generosity beyond measure. The story, Mark 4:1-9, showed that wherever God’s word of love goes, good soil or not, a harvest is possible. From this story we learn that God’s love generously fills our lives, making us thankful. Activities to do at home:
--LOM Curriculum Prayer Dear God, Wow! You fill our lives with all that you are. Help us to live with boldness, persistence, and generosity as your disciples. We trust that you can take the seeds we plant and multiply them beyond our imagining! In Jesus’s name. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:31-35) Reflection My husband is an only child. He often views the interactions between our three children with wonder. I think his vision of having a sibling, especially a brother, was that of having a built-in friend: a constant playmate and ally. You probably know that it isn’t always like that. They say that sibling relationships are a good training ground for future relationships. Sometimes they get along brilliantly and sometimes they really, really don’t. Loving one another is hard. People disagree. Sometimes people take our stuff or tattle on us or won’t play by the rules we decide. And outside of our family it can even worse! So, I’m practicing following Jesus’s new commandment. I’m going to make mistakes. His love is perfect, but I’m not, so I’ll keep practicing. Maybe I’ll start with my brother. --Erin Hayes Prayer Thank you for loving us. Help us to love one another as we know that we should. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; 4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” 5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. (Revelation 21: 1-6) Reflection Did you know there is a new & improved computer keyboard out that is washable? You can scrub that icky, sticky space bar, and the bowl of Froot Loops I dumped wouldn’t have been a total loss. Or think about lighting. Candles are nice for romantic dinners and meditation, but thanks to lightbulbs, fewer cows will burn down a city when they kick an untended oil lantern. And now there are solar lights to flicker along the garden path at dusk, and LED lighting to illuminate kitchens and TVs. You can even save electricity or affect moods with automated controls when the lights come on or go off. And all of these products come with so much more, from a bonus water-resistant mouse to included-free lighting strips. New & improved can apply beyond the material. How about a new and improved relationship with God? Tweaking a prayer routine, adopting a new worship practice, studying a neglected book in the bible – these adaptations could deliver fresh and enriched connections with the Holy Spirit. In John’s Revelation, we find the promise of a new and improved heaven and earth. One home to God and His creation in a perfected existence. Death is no more; pain and suffering are eliminated along with all the products of sin. All at a price we can afford: our faith and belief. Now I’ll buy that! --Heather Wolf Prayer Jesus, God, Creator of heaven and earth; your will be done! Help me to be an instrument of improvement to the lives of others and the world around me. In your name I pray. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading:
1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! 2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host! 3 Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! 4 Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. 6 He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed. 7 Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, 8 fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command! 9 Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! 10 Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds! 11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! 12 Young men and women alike, old and young together! 13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven. 14 He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the Lord! (Psalm 148) Reflection Psalms are one of my favorite types of scripture. Psalms were written to sing praises to God, to cry out laments, and to give thanks for God’s gifts. This Psalm is particularly joyful. Praising God for all things in creation. This Psalm is one the I use as an example in confirmation when we write our own prayers to praise God for what we have been given. You too can write your own prayer Psalms to praise God or crying out our laments or give thanks. Just whatever is on your heart you can pour it out to God. --Charlene Rineer Prayer: Gracious God I praise your holy name. Thank you for all the good things you have created. Thank you for the flowers of spring and the warmer weather. Thank you for the time we get to spend with family and friends. Let us never be timid when we come to you in prayer. AMEN Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on April 19, 2016.
Reading Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So, when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?” Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance, I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely, I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ But I replied, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But a second time the voice answered from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’ This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.’ And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?” When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, “Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11:1-18) Reflection This is a fascinating story. Peter tells folks about an incredible vision he had. It is almost too wild to be true! But look at his response when he is done telling the people about it. He basically says, “Who am I to question God. If God gave them the same gift of the Spirit that he gave us, why should I hinder that?” So often I find myself responding to others’ wild ideas or plans with hesitation or “brushing it off.” But, as we see in this story from Peter, perhaps the response should be, “who am I hinder that?” God might be right there, through the Spirit, guiding what is to be! --Chad Hershberger Prayer God, help me not to hinder your good works. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” (John 10:22-30) Reflection Today’s text makes me giggle a little. Those gathered around Jesus clearly have no tolerance for nuance. They can’t make inferences. “Tell us plainly” they say. But Jesus knows that if they have to ask, they aren’t his sheep. His sheep know Him. Nothing can take that away. I love that the text reads “no one will snatch them out of my hand.” What can we do, to take away God’s love? Nothing. What can we do to stop being sheep? Nothing. I am His, and you can’t take that away from me. --Erin Hayes Prayer Messiah, Thank you for making us your sheep. Help me to trust in your promises and live my life so that others can plainly see your love in me. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason, they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7: 9-18) Reflection Having just returned from a youth orchestra performance tour in Berlin, Leipzig, and Prague with a group of 100+ people, I know what a multitude is. Being in cities full of local residents and tourists of other nations, I had an awareness of all tribes and languages. And all of us having been through a couple years of pandemic isolation and limited travel, there was a feeling of having come out of a great ordeal. We were glad to share meals, raise a glass and be in the sunshine together. Truly, some tears were wiped away. Yes, I wrapped my recent travel experience around our text from Revelation today. There is one more connection. Singing. The multitude fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God singing. Music. That was the purpose of our tour - music; though instrumental, not singing. After the final concert, one young orchestra member came up to me so excited. “Mrs. Gates, that was the best! I made an old person smile. I looked down off the stage and there she was in the front row smiling as we played. And you know how an old person without a lot of teeth smiles? I could tell she was happy and that is just the best feeling. I made an old person happy with my music.” Perhaps that person went home with music in her heart. Perhaps her own bedtime prayer was a song much like the singing of the multitude at the throne. Perhaps God wiped away some tears that night. The old person’s, the young musician’s and mine. --Ruth Gates Prayer “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff-- they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. (Psalm 23) Reflection Last summer, my daughter shared her Camp Mount Luther counseling book with me. It is full of activities and prayers for exploring deeper faith formation with kids of all ages. One of the neatest devotion ideas was to rewrite the 23rd Psalm to reiterate God’s loving care in terms more personally relatable. They cite a version written by Julia Seymour, pastor of Big Timber Church in Montana, who relied on a mechanic-car metaphor. I don’t know much about shepherds and sheep, or how to keep an engine-blocks running, but I love music and I’m writing with a very knowledgeable friend. So… 1 The Lord is my music director, I shall not play without help. 2 He leads me from the downbeat to the final cutoff; he knows where the rests are; 3 he keeps the time. He directs me through the piece, for the composition is his. 4 Yea though I play through the change of key signatures, I fear no missteps; for you are with me; your baton and music score-- they conduct me. 5 You prepare an opus for me to perform in the presence of all to hear; you honor me with a solo; I am given first seat. 6 Surely structure and harmony, melody and rhythm shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall make beautiful music with my Lord and Maestro my whole life long.[g] --Heather Wolf (with Ruth Gates) Prayer Jesus, Shepherd, Teacher, Creator, Conductor, Loving God and Lord. You are all things and all I need. Thank you for being ever with me. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
³⁶In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. ³⁷About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. ³⁸Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!" ³⁹Peter went with them, and when he arrived, he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. ⁴⁰Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes and seeing Peter she sat up. 41He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. ⁴²This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the LORD. ⁴³Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon. (Acts 9: 36-43) Reflection This scripture is a wonderful story of the beginning of the Christian church. A disciple was doing good and helping the poor. When sickness stuck other disciples knew God’s power and reached out for help from Peter. Simon Peter was one of 12 disciples. He was a fisherman who was called to follow Jesus. Peter was present at many important times in Jesus’s ministry, walked on water, and acknowledge Jesus as Lord of all. Peter also denied knowing Jesus but came back to Jesus by the sea and was commanded to feed the sheep. Peter was present for the accension, and then preached to the crowd at Pentecost. Peter was a great leader. At one point in time Jesus said, “On this rock I will build my church.” Peter’s belief and mission of spreading of the story of Christ was widespread. Other followers knew him, and he eventually become the first pope of the church. Looking at Peter we should find some comfort that his early belief was over the top, then he had a time when he turned away, but then came back and was stronger then ever in his beliefs. Peter had many human characteristics that we all can relate to and even though he was flawed God did great things through him. God also works in our lives and great things can happen. --Charlene Rineer Prayer: Loving God, we thank you for the Apostles. Thank you for Peter and his ministry of leadership for starting the church. Help us keep spreading your word and building up the church. Let us be disciples like Tabitha who do good and help the poor. AMEN Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Today, we look at a Day 4 text from this year’s summer curriculum, “Boundless: God Beyond Measure.”
Reading Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:6-9) Reflection I’ll level with you here: I’m not exactly certain how you’re supposed to forsake your ways, let alone your thoughts. I mean, my thoughts are my thoughts and they seem pretty intrinsic to who I am. Are they always the best thoughts? Of course not! Do I know the secret to not thinking those thoughts in the first place? Not even in the slightest. So, what are we to do in the face of this call from God through the prophet Isaiah? I mean, clearly, God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and God’s ways are not our ways, but I don’t know how to make my thoughts not thoughts for thinking. I don’t think that I can’t think the things I think when the thoughts come. . . you know? But before I get too deep into thinking my thoughts (even the ones I may need to forsake), maybe what I need instead is an interruption. If I can’t not think, then maybe I can instead think anew. Maybe the interruption I need is from the Lord whose ways are as high above our own as the heavens are from the earth. Maybe what I really need is a realignment to God’s ways, to at least steer me away from the thoughts I think when I think I’ve thought it through. Maybe this is why Jesus simply had to teach his disciples how to pray . . . ~ Justin Lingenfelter Prayer . . . Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. May we be aligned in the height your ways through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ___________________________________________________________________________ Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on April 4, 2016.
Reading After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. 2Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” 6He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. 7That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. 8But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. 9When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19(He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.” (John 21:1-19) Reflection In this season of Easter, we continue looking at Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances. This, I must admit, is one of my favorites. This time, the risen Christ decides to join his disciples in, what some call, “The Last Breakfast.” Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James, John, and two others are fishing at dawn but not doing too well. They look up, and there is Jesus standing on the beach, having made a fire and cooking some breakfast. Jesus, once again, tells them where to find the fish and, low and behold, their net was overflowing. The net was not even torn even though it was very full. More fish were fried and the disciples once again enjoyed a meal in Jesus’ presence. Scene Two: Breakfast is over. The disciples and their Lord most likely were engaged in some conversation over their morning meal. As the talk was winding down, Jesus and Peter had a “heart-to-heart.” Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him, and Peter replied, “Yes” each time. And Jesus told him three times, in various ways, to feed his sheep. He also predicted Peter’s martyrdom and said once again, “Follow me.” We don’t know why the disciples were fishing. Perhaps they had returned to work after being gone on their bereavement leave. Or perhaps they were fishing to “get away from it all.” Do you perhaps have a place to go to retreat from life’s routines and troubles? For me and for many others, Camp Mount Luther is that place. It is our “Sea of Tiberius” where we go to experience the Risen Lord, just like the disciples did on that post-resurrection morning. Because it is in this place, at the breakfast table, at the pond, and doing many other things, that I truly Jesus in our midst! --Chad Hershberger Prayer Help us to see you wherever we go, Lord, and be in our midst. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 singing with full voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5:11-14) Reflection All God's creatures got a place in the choir Some sing low and some sing higher, Some sing out loud on a telephone wire, Some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they've got now I love this song, especially when sung at camp “in character,” woofing out dog verses and hopping through the chorus as a frog. It’s a silly, active and wholly engaging song, a reminder of how worship can have deep meaning while still being fun! “Fun” is not a word I’d normally associate with the Book of Revelation, but why not? The author speaks of God revealed…to the WORLD! Certainly cause for celebration. Euphoria. In raptures. I can well imagine all the creatures on earth singing and dancing, praising the Lord and worshiping in unison, clapping their hands, or paws, or anything they’ve got now... --Heather Wolfe Prayer Thank you, God, for the joy in my life from knowing you always. I pray for a day when your loving supremacy are revealed to all and the whole world lifts its happy praise. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up, and did not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit. Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning. As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.” By your favor, O Lord, you had established me as a strong mountain; you hid your face; I was dismayed. To you, O Lord, I cried, and to the Lord I made supplication: “What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me! O Lord, be my helper!” You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever. (Psalm 30) Reflection Many Psalms are full of praise and thanksgiving for the things God has done. I recently wrote on Psalm 150, which I know as a raucous and joyous camp song. My favorites, though, run more along the lines of this one. Yes, it is full of praise, but it also acknowledges the reality of life. There is loss, and we are mourning. There are foes; there is anger. The beauty of God’s love, the gift of Christ’s sacrifice is not that life is without hardship but that He is with us in all of it. Sometimes life takes us down into the pit, but joy comes in the morning. Thanks be to God. --Erin Hayes Prayer O Lord, you alone can turn mourning into dancing. Bring comfort to those who are hurting and healing to those who are ill. Thank you for being with us always, Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading: Acts 9: 1-6 (7-10)
9 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” Reflection When the kids were small and they would work themselves into a rage or outburst, I would relegate them to the bottom stair for a Time Out. Away went the offending source of rage, until tempers cooled, and logic was restored. Off went the TV game that had frustrated, until tears dried. Siblings would be separated, hopefully before they got to the stage of “breathing threats and murder.” The Time Out wasn’t so much a punishment as an enforced break to let their minds naturally clear. Often, after five minutes or so, we could speak calmly about a resolution to the videogame puzzle or a willingness to consider a brother’s perspective. Saul needed a time out, for sure. In fact, a punishment may have been more expected and hoped for, at least by those persecuted. But Jesus knows what Saul needs. Three days without sight, depending on others, hearing the voice of God and contemplating His call, will ultimately lead Saul into discipleship as the mighty and resolved evangelist for Christ, Paul. Thank God. –Heather Wolf Prayer Abba, thank you for the time outs you provide. May I take the moments you offer for peace and contemplation willingly. May they restore my reasoning and refresh my soul, leaving me calm and ready to answer your call. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Today, we look at a Day 4 text from this year’s summer curriculum, “Boundless: God Beyond Measure.”
Reading Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. (Matthew 18:21-22) Reflection Did you know that some infinities are bigger than other infinities? Or rather that some infinities could fit inside other infinities with room to spare? Like, there are big infinities and little infinities just floating around out there. It all feels a little oxymoronic, but it’s true! In fact, some infinities are so big that they could fit an infinite amount of little infinities inside them! This, my friends, is the totality of what I remember from my high school calculus courses. Sorry, Mr. Smoyer. I’ve probably held onto it, though, because it seems like a totally ridiculous and irrational notion (because it is)! The thought that there are different infinities that can compound and divide one another out there simply does not make sense! In fact, it makes about as little sense as what Jesus is telling Peter about forgiveness in the passage from Matthew! Wait, what? What do infinities have to do with forgiveness you ask? Well, strap in! Because the question that Peter brings to Jesus here is one that seems rather incomprehensible. His leading inquiry is almost meant to be tongue in cheek. “How often should I forgive, Lord? As many as seven times?” Seven might not seem like all that many times to extend forgiveness (I can still count to it without using my toes), but to Peter and Jesus, the number carried weight! Seven is the number of completion, of totality. It’s a number that implies a certain sort of perfection and wholeness. Though not exactly paralleled, it’s a number that almost acts like a big infinity that could contain any number of smaller infinities within it. Which is what makes Peter’s question so ludicrous. Could anyone really truly forgive to such perfection? Could anyone genuinely be called upon to forgive so (w)hol(l)y as that? Turns out, Jesus calls for even more. Not just seven times, he says, but seventy-seven (or seven times seven) times! Your perfect forgiveness should be compounded by perfect forgiveness, he says! Grace must abound! Mercy ought to win the day! Following this Jesus, there are no bounds to reconciliation! New starts, new possibilities are always close at hand! The limit simply does not exist! Looks like we’re going to need a bigger infinity. ~ Justin Lingenfelter Prayer Infinite God, you call your people to radical grace and forgiveness. Empower us to extend to others the perfect love with which we have been met through your Son, Jesus Christ, our forgiving Lord. Amen. Reading
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:19-31) Reflection Thomas gets a raw deal every Easter season and is shown as an unbeliever until he sees Jesus. I feel that we are too hard on Thomas. I think that if I was in the same situation, I would have reacted the same way. Unless I see - I cannot believe. I need proof. Humans need proof for them to believe. Sometime even if proof is there, people still do not believe. I have said it before, and I stand by it, that we are blessed with having scriptures to turn to. The written down stories of the faithful are very helpful. In fact, as you just read, that was the purpose of the Gospel of John. I hope we live lives that can stand as proof for a God of love and a Jesus who died and was resurrected to save us all. --Charlene Rineer Prayer God of our salvation we are thankful for all you have given us. We are human and we live with doubts. Let our faith and belief in you be stronger than any doubts we have. Help us lead others to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. AMEN Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation 1: 4-8) Reflection If I could have understood Revelation as a child (and I still don’t quite as an adult), I would have known what Amen meant. It’s right there in our text today. So it is to be. Amen. I remember as a child once asking, “What does ‘Amen’ mean?” Amen was said at the end of our family table grace, my bedtime prayer, the Lord’s Prayer in Sunday School and at the end of some hymns in worship. But what does it mean? I was told it means So be it or May it be so or Let it be which sounded a lot like a Beatles song my older brothers listened to so that was cool. But what I really realized was that prayer was me talking to God, God listening to me and it all ending with hope. God is great; God is good…From his hands we shall be fed…So be it. Now I lay me down to sleep…Angels guard me through the night and wake me in the morning light…May it be so. Our Father…forgive us our sins as we forgive…Let it be. I began to understand prayer as getting to the hopeful point of So it is to be. Then one day I asked the organist (I was a very inquisitive child) why he played the Amen at the end of some hymns but not others even if it was there? The organist explained if there was an Amen at the end of a hymn, he only played it if it was the last hymn of the service because that was when our worship was over and it was time for Amen. All that had been spoken, heard, prayed and sung…Let it be. Amen --Ruth Gates Prayer Dear God, all that we say and you hear and all that you say and we hear, with hope we respond, “So it is to be.” Amen Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Psalm 150) Reflection If you’ve been to Mt Luther during the summer in the last two decades you’ve likely already started to sing. No group exemplifies the din of loud clashing cymbals quite like 50 rowdy campers and staff. It’s harder to muster such joy and enthusiasm some days than others, yet God’s surpassing greatness surrounds us every day. Praise Him with lute and harp, Praise Him like the Evergreen Center full of campers! --Erin Hayes Prayer We praise you Lord, for your surpassing mighty deeds! Thank you for your surpassing greatness! With all that we have, we praise you! Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
27 When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,[a] yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.[b] 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” (Acts 5:27-32) Reflection I am writing this on a day when the Ukraine conflict is still very much underway – so much devastation has transpired: lives lost, homes burned, families torn asunder, churches bombed. Everywhere I turn, there are more reports on the suffering and atrocities being committed. Yet what stands out for me are the several telephone interviews I have heard in which a Ukranian prays for Putin. I had read how religious are most Ukrainians, a nation with many observant Jews and Christians. Hearing their pleas for mercy and God’s grace for the very leader and soldiers invading their country and demolishing their churches feels biblical to me. I have also heard speculation that in their determination to shut down media and news reports that conflict with the Russian narrative, it is possible the leaders of the aggression are not receiving accurate accounts from the field. Yet there is no silencing the truth. As areas of Ukraine are released and UN forces come through, the evidence is undeniable. Some Russian soldiers have deserted, unable to obey human authority in light of actions so immoral and egregious to God (they, too, are religious). And so, I pray that by the time this devotion is read, perhaps an armistice has been achieved. That faith will prevail. That in time, repentance and forgiveness may restore the people on both sides to brotherly love and that the world will join in lifting up prayers for lasting peace. –Heather Wolf Prayer Abba, I weep. For the pain in the world. For the injustices we do to one another. For all those who forget your commandments – to love you and each other, to honor the lives you have afforded – forgive us. Let your Word be taught, and your ways remembered. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened. (Luke 24:1-12) Reflection We smirk a little, smile a little, and maybe giggle a bit while they foolishly walk along with their special blend of strong spices. I am imagining basil, but that is probably only because I am looking forward to that glorious summer smell. Myrrh & aloes, aromatics in a thick oil and probably also a pulverized powder. They expected to overpower the smell of decomposition and retard decay. They were so sad. We read on and look forward to the foundational surprise. The little child in us can hardly wait for the verses to roll along. “He isn’t there!” -we want to yell before it is time, like a joyful warning. We know their tears will turn to laughter, so it’s okay that we are early for the punchline. They should have known, we think. He told them so many times, “In three days…” It is kind of funny to us. The joke is on them. Or actually, on death. Which we like even better. Yes, this is one joke that doesn’t hurt any of our feelings! --Andrew Fitch Prayer Dear Jesus, we thank you deeply for making a laughingstock out of death. You have filled our hearts with joy and our mouths with laughter! In your eternal Name, we pray. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” (Acts 2:36-39) Reflection What a week for a guilt trip, am I right? Many of you are probably still reeling from the events of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday in the past 48 hours. Maybe you’re still humming the refrain asking, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” Maybe you can still hear your voice crying out among the crowds to “Crucify! Crucify him!” And don’t bother trying to point the finger in blame or scapegoat anyone else. This one whom God has made both Lord and Messiah is the Jesus whom you crucified. I know because I did it too. As we sit in the liminal space of this Holy Saturday, then, now is our chance to take stock. With the cross still looming over the day, its shadow serves as an indictment for all the ways in which we reel and deal in life-robbing courses of action. Where is it that we have fallen short of the glory of God? Where is it that we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves? Where is it that in thought, word, and deed we have caused an affront to God and one another in the things we have done and the things we have left undone? I’m not going to lie; such honest questioning might get uncomfortable. But then I hear my voice once more calling for crucifixion from the crowd and realize we might just need that honesty to go forward. If you’re there, too, then maybe you’re also left wondering what those around Peter and the apostles were wondering: what should we do? What recompense do we need to offer? How do we change the ways? Well, it turns out the answer is already behind us, even while its fulfillment lies ahead. In our baptisms, being baptized into Christ’s death, we find all those ways hanging on yesterday’s cross. And now, being united into Christ’s resurrection, we keep vigil through this day and look to the dawn that heralds God’s loving response on the horizon. So, cling fast to these promises: new life is just around the corner. ~ Justin Lingenfelter Prayer O God, you are the creator of the world, the liberator of your people, and the wisdom of the earth. By the resurrection of your Son free us from our fears, restore us in your image, and ignite us with your light, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (taken from the Evangelical Lutheran Worship Vigil of Easter service) ___________________________________________________________________________ Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Holy Week brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus replied, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, “I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?” So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people. Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. The woman said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself. Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered, “I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.” When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, “You are not also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed. Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews replied, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.” (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.) Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” They shouted in reply, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a bandit. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face. Pilate went out again and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.” Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.” When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but the emperor.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill what the scripture says, “They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.” And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.” And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.” After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. (John 18:1—19:42) Reflection What popped out to you as you read the Passion Story? It is, of course, such a rich narrative that probably many things struck you. Perhaps there were at least a few that you did not remember from a previous reading. (It was likely a year ago at least!) For me, I did not remember that the garden was a familiar place. Jesus took the disciples there with some regularity. It makes me wonder, how could he teach them about love and forgiveness in the place where he could clearly envision betrayal and denial. I can hang on to much smaller slights from others for far too long. It seems that the same strength of will intertwined with divine love also kept him on the cross. Again and again, I read the Passion and new phrases catch me with a different meaning that drive straight to my heart. “What is truth?” This politician asks the profound question in the midst of layers upon layers of twists and lies, now laid bare between himself and a simple man speaking few words. Yet, those that he utters without any fear of reprisal cut through it all. Has he ever known a person speaking so much truth in his life? --Andrew Fitch Prayer We thank you, King of Love—Jesus, for your life. We praise you King of Love—Jesus, for your suffering. We honor you, King of Love—Jesus, for your death. All in the hands of sinners, you absorbed and triumphed, truth-told and exposed, gathered and loved. In your cross, you draw us all to yourself. We delight in this precious closeness to your sacred goodness beyond compare. In your incomparable Name, we pray. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Holy Week brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
13 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16 Very truly, I tell you, servants[d] are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. (John 13:1-17, John 13:31-35) Reflection Recently in adult Sunday School, we had a discussion about whether or not it makes a big difference to know something is going to happen ahead of time. You know, like the movies where the world is going to end with the impact of a meteor, or the terminal patient out for their final weeks of life. In most of these dramatizations, the protagonist lives large, binging on favorite foods or denying themselves of nothing. Think about it a moment: If you knew today was to be your last, what would you do differently from any other “normal” day? It is with wonder and awe that we read of Jesus choosing to spend his final moments eating, teaching, and loving his friends. Quietly. Compassionately. Not unlike any other day in the last three years of his time with these disciples. Who can really know what day is their last or what tomorrow will bring? In Jesus we find yet another example to follow: live every day as though it matters and make every moment count. –Heather Wolf Prayer Jesus, friend and teacher, you have called me to be your servant. May I walk in your ways and be a blessing to others. Give me the peace of mind and joy in heart that will follow when my days are done. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Holy Week brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So, while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So, when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night. When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. (John 13:21-32) Reflection I’ve been working on a project for camp this winter about the disciples. Recently, I was reading up on our main character in our story today. There was some debate on whether Judas was “predestined” to be the betrayer or whether it was for another reason. We read in scripture that Satan came into Judas and that may have caused his actions. Judas was a follower and not a leader. He was a listener and not a talker. He was the treasurer of the group. John’s gospel indicates that he was a thief. Judas regularly helped himself to the community purse of the disciples. In this Holy Week, it’s interesting to think about this character that has such an important role in the passion story. What do you think of Judas? Where is God in this story of betrayal? --Chad Hershberger Prayer Know you are with us, Lord, in the good and the bad. Keep us in your kindly care. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Holy Week brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. |
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