While we are looking for breaks and enrichment in times of isolation, we’re going to be reading through the book of James together. James, thought to be the brother of Jesus, wrote this book sometime in the 20-30 years after Christ’s death. It’s not a letter, per se, in that the audience is not clear. ... [Read more...]

We are reminded by the story that follows Jesus laying out the greatest commandment what power we have to love God will all our hearts. Sometimes, we miss the sacrifice that comes in loving God and loving neighbors as ourselves. In this time, it's good to remember that giving more than we are comfortable with can push us to grow in love.

We're showing our love by not spreading germs. In Jesus's terms, we're trying to figure out how to tend God's vineyard together. Sometimes, it's easy to forget this work until there's a crisis. Being stewards means always remembering public health and good leadership and management, and committing ourselves to remembering that we are public people.

It's important that Jesus's transfiguration comes only after he warns Peter not to be ashamed of his impending death. We are reminded that it is easy to promote Christ when Christ's power is obvious. It is easy to proclaim the victory. It is harder to remember that before Christ rose, Jesus was beaten down, alienated, and isolated by the Romans. So perhaps Jesus is reminding Peter that the Gospel will always be found not on the mountaintop, but in the gutter.

Sometimes, leaders say things that are good ideas, but don't necessarily bring us closer to God. Sometimes we have good ideas that don't bring us closer to God. Sometimes we have bad ideas. Jesus challenges us to listen with a discerning ear.

John the Baptist's death shows us the lengths to which those in power will go to suppress criticism. The way we tell the story shows how they also often evade responsibility for their actions. But the story remains.

Jesus's adventures among the Gerasenes warn us that pushing our demons out of sight do not make them any less potent. Only when we exorcise them from ourselves and reconcile ourselves to them can we heal ourselves and society.

We are all embodied--we do not exist apart from our bodies, their strengths and their weaknesses. Each of us has a different experience in the world because of our bodies, and we cannot fully understand them all. Jesus's appearance in a body shows God's love and experience of the bodily challenges we face. The stories of healing show Jesus's understanding of the ways our bodies affect us.