Acts 2:1-21 What would it mean for followers of Jesus Christ to speak of God in languages the world could understand? I wonder if in this day and time we might want to do more listening than talking, at least at first and for a while. James Davison Hunter in his book, “To Change the World” writes: “In public discourse, the challenge is not to stifle robust debate, but rather to make sure that it is real debate. The first obligation for Christians is to listen carefully to opponents and if they are not willing to do so, then Christians should simply be silent. To engage in a war of words is to engage in symbolic violence that is fundamentally at odds with the gospel.” Would a contemporary Pentecost in our context entail disciples listening more than speaking? Getting together to seek a word from the Lord, rather than entering the sanctuary solidly convinced we know what God says? I wonder if being silent is a prerequisite for colluding with the Holy Spirit, or at least not … [Read more...]

Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 Easter 7C This week, we are grateful to guest contributor John Wurster for writing this week's lectionary reflection.     Persistent grace. By definition, subscribers to this list are interested in the lectionary. For many of us, I suspect it could be said that we are committed to the lectionary or perhaps even devoted to it. I appreciate how this calendar of biblical readings moves us through the Bible in a systematic way, helping us to hear more of the Bible than if the preacher simply made his or her own choices from week to week. While the lectionary moves us through a lot of the Bible, it doesn’t move us through the whole Bible, and some of the selected passages are edited a bit. Occasionally, a verse is left out here and there. The difficult or the weird sections within a passage are sometimes dropped so that the passage might be read a bit more smoothly. So it is in the lesson from Revelation 22. The … [Read more...]

Acts 16:9-15; Revelation 21:10; 21:22-22:5; John 5:1-9 “I go down, down, down.” Reflecting on her experience of walking from the concrete deck into the deep end of the pool, my then nearly 2-year-old described wide-eyed what happened earlier that day. Her surprise still evident even hours after she briefly went “down, down, down.” She discovered that she could not, in fact, walk on water in Columbus, Georgia, at a hotel swimming pool. I’d been in the shallow end with her brother, my husband seated nearby, when our little girl, trusting and confident, marched to the edge of the water and kept right on walking. Thankfully, we watched the scene unfold and reacted quickly. I swam to her and went down, down, down after her, plucking her up to the surface as she sputtered and looked more shocked than afraid. Throughout the day and the next she would return to the incident trying to make sense of it. Going down, down, down, unable to do anything other required processing. What she’d … [Read more...]

Acts 11:1-18; Revelation 21:1-6; John 13:31-35 Easter 5C Gentiles receive the Holy Spirit. A whole new heaven and earth emerges. The holy city descends with the declaration “the home of God is among mortals.” There are some big happenings in this week’s lectionary texts. Acts and Revelation reveal a new creation occurring as the Spirit breaches barriers between peoples and the resurrection power of Easter reverberates between heaven and earth. Nothing remains untouched or unchanged in the wake of Jesus being raised from the dead, and no one’s preferences or pre-conceived notions of divine parameters will prevent the Triune God from making all things new. Peter explains step by step that which defies any human explanation. And yet, he makes the attempt and – another sign of the work of the Spirit – those who at first condemn his actions hear and accept his account. They are left speechless and then moved to praise God for this heretofore unbelievable happening. Even the … [Read more...]

Acts 9:36-43; Revelation 7:9-17; John 10:23-30 Easter 4C A multitude of nations. Every tribe. All peoples and languages. When I read about the heavenly worship of Revelation, I am transported to the international arrivals gate at Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C. Twice in recent months I’ve stood on the other side of the security doors, at the end of the roped-off tunnel waiting to meet someone returning from a trip across the ocean. Both times I’ve subtly wiped away tears witnessing reunions of families and friends. It felt like every tribe, nation, language and people gathered in expectation. Children and old people. Those wearing hijabs, turbans and prayer shawls. I marveled at the diversity of color and custom, clothing and culture. Some people embraced, others kissed, toddlers got scooped up and hugged, younger generations lifted baggage for their elderly relatives. I texted a friend who’d been feeling disillusioned with xenophobic headlines and hate crimes: … [Read more...]

Acts 9:1-20; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19 Easter 3C The risen Christ startles Saul. Angels, every creature in heaven and on earth serenade the slaughtered Lamb seated on the throne. The resurrected Jesus directs his disciples, eats with them on the beach and gives Peter the opportunity to profess his love, three times. Our risen Lord makes many impactful appearances this third Sunday of Easter. The power of this new creation made evident in Jesus’ resurrection blinds, silences and converts the most virulent of Christian-haters, unites every possible being in praise, and transforms deniers into witnesses willing to die in service to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Timidity must be stricken from the believers’ hearts this Sunday. Weeks into Eastertide we who profess to follow Jesus should be bold in proclaiming the unprecedented power of our God. Violent, murderous enemies will be made great apostles of the faith, imprisoned for their evangelism, tireless in their ministry to … [Read more...]