by Liesl Spitz | Sep 24, 2021 | Devotions
“Whoever is not against us is for us.” (Mark 9:40)In what would be followed by some of the harshest words of scripture, Jesus casts yet another stunningly wide circle of invitation. The disciples were tattling on someone casting out demons in Jesus’ name, but...
by Liesl Spitz | Sep 18, 2021 | Devotions
Our Gospel this week is a lesson in contrasts. Jesus, revealing the sacrifice and suffering he will undergo, turns to his disciples who are arguing in whispers behind him. When he calls them on it, they know they are in the wrong. For while their teacher was preparing...
by Hans Jorgensen | Aug 19, 2021 | Devotions
Because of Jesus’ hard sayings, many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. In the gospel reading for this Sunday, we hear: So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have...
by Hans Jorgensen | Aug 13, 2021 | Devotions
Jesus said in Sunday’s upcoming gospel reading: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (John 6)It is a dynamic image to consider “living...
by Hans Jorgensen | Aug 2, 2021 | Devotions
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6).I love this promise and find comfort in Jesus’ words. And yet, here we are — at many times being both hungry and thirsty. How do...
by Hans Jorgensen | Jul 30, 2021 | Devotions
As the people of Israel were hungry in the wilderness and complaining to Moses, God promised, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day” (Exodus 16). This is a central Biblical story of hunger,...