by Liesl Spitz | Sep 9, 2021 | Uncategorized
“The tongue is a fire…” (James 3:6)The saying goes, “sticks and stones can break my bones…” but we know that words matter, and so does James. The tongue, small as it is, can be responsible for incredible harm. The tongue, and language, can also re-shape our reality,...
by Liesl Spitz | Sep 4, 2021 | Uncategorized
If someone with less power than you challenges your point of view, do you believe them? In our Gospel for today, Jesus comes across as dismissive, even shaming, in his refusal to the Syro-Phoenician woman who begs for healing for her daughter. He calls her a dog, to...
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,...
by Liesl Spitz | Jul 23, 2021 | Devotions
Growing up in California, snowy Christmas was a phenomenon of movies like “Home Alone,” and Hallmark greeting cards. Still, there are all kinds of signs I would look for that Christmas was on the way: hyped-up advertisements for new toys, store and sidewalk...
by Liesl Spitz | Jul 9, 2021 | Devotions
When I was little, I remember loving the joke, “you can pick your friends, you can pick your nose, but you can’t pick your relatives.” (Can you guess the part I thought was funny?) We don’t often think of family as something we choose—at least not the people who raise...
by Liesl Spitz | Jul 2, 2021 | Devotions
In this week’s reading from 2 Corinthians, Paul talks about a thorn in his side that made him weak — yet in Paul’s weakness, God’s power was “made perfect.” There are many voices in our world today that tell us how to get to “perfect.” Whether it’s a fitness regimen...
by Hans Jorgensen | Jun 25, 2021 | Devotions
God responds to Job: “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding” (Job 38).Where do your friends find wonder? In nature? In adventure? In times with others, or times alone? Is that where you experience wonder, too?The...
