by Hans Jorgensen | Nov 10, 2023 | Devotions
We often want to know what a scripture passage means. Sometimes it is enough to notice how it feels. I find this to be the case with a reading from Matthew’s gospel that we will hear this weekend. Jesus tells the disciples that God’s reign will be like ten bridesmaids...
by Hans Jorgensen | Nov 3, 2023 | Devotions
1 John 3 shares one of the loveliest promises to which I cling. “Beloved, we are God’s children now. What we will be has not yet been revealed.” I cling to the now and not yet promises. We gather this Sunday to remember how we are God’s children in the here and now....
by Hans Jorgensen | Oct 27, 2023 | Devotions
As we mark Reformation Sunday this weekend, we can quickly notice how God continues to re-form us in grace. Both church and society continue to be in a time of great change, so it is delicious good news that God is not done speaking or working in our lives, our...
by Hans Jorgensen | Oct 13, 2023 | Devotions
In Matthew 22, Jesus speaks of God’s reign as being like a banquet. We don’t always think of God in terms of feasting, but Jesus seems to believe God likes a good party. Especially when the feast can also include those who don’t always get an invitation, God’s...
by Hans Jorgensen | Oct 6, 2023 | Devotions
In Isaiah 5, it says that God planted a vineyard and expected justice but instead saw bloodshed, and sought righteousness but instead heard a cry. When we were doing a Bible study on Isaiah last year, we studied this passage. Several of us commented how we preferred...
by Hans Jorgensen | Sep 22, 2023 | Devotions
In Matthew 20 we hear one of Jesus’ parables that both challenges us and brings us joy. Jesus tells of a landowner who goes to the marketplace to get laborers for the vineyard, and keeps hiring workers throughout the day. The last one hired receives as much as the...
by Hans Jorgensen | Sep 15, 2023 | Devotions
Anne Lamott said someone once asked her if she was “one of those forgiving Christians.” Lamott wondered if there was some other kind? We know forgiveness is a key component in our faith (and figures prominently in the Lord’s Prayer), and yet we know that forgiveness...
by Hans Jorgensen | Sep 13, 2023 | Devotions
I love Jesus’ words in Matthew 18 — “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” It is a humble, hopeful promise. When a few of us gather in Jesus’ name, we are part of the real-time incarnation of Christ in our world. I love that promise!Jesus...
by Hans Jorgensen | Aug 31, 2023 | Devotions
How do we deal with hard news that challenges the way we’ve usually thought? Do we say “No, that can’t be” at first? Do we ask those around us what they think? Do we go and do further research? It can be hard when we’re confronted with something that challenges our...
by Hans Jorgensen | Aug 17, 2023 | Devotions
In Matthew’s gospel, there is an event where a Canaanite woman advocates for her daughter (Matthew 15). She shouts at Jesus to heal her daughter. Jesus does nothing at first, which has puzzled people through the centuries. The disciples want to shoo her away. The...
