John 17: 20-26 I got word on Wednesday afternoon that my old friend John would most likely die that night. His dying was not unexpected, but word of it still took my breath away. I stepped outside into the warm May sunshine to try to take it in, to put this news in its place. And …
Tag: John
Jesus’ Gift of Peace
John 14:23-29 This Sunday’s Gospel is one I often read at funerals, especially the part where Jesus says to his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let them be …
Loving One Another
John 13:31-35 I was standing in a hospital room many years ago now. It was during one of a dozen such stays after my dad’s first heart surgery. A group of friends from his church had come to see him. As I remember it, they stood awkwardly around his hospital bed, fumbling for words to …
Our Shepherd’s Voice
John 10:22-30 I stepped into the funeral home on Tuesday afternoon. I had met with the family on Monday. The woman’s daughter described herself and her family as “spiritual but not religious,” although their roots were Lutheran, which is why the call came to me. I spent extra time that day walking through the funeral service …
Following Jesus Once More
John 21:1-19 I can’t really imagine what it must have been for Peter and the other disciples as they gathered on the lake shore that night. There is certainly nothing in my own experience that parallels what they have been through: to watch Jesus crucified, and to have participated in it by their own denial …
On Hopscotch and Crocuses and Doubting Thomas Once More
John 20:19-31 I didn’t get up in time to go to my weight training class this morning. It’s the day after Easter, after all, and my 4:45 alarm just came too early. So instead I decided to take the walk I’ve been fitting in these last couple of weeks. It takes just more than half …
On Foot-Washing
John 13:1-7, 31b-35 I would offer two images today. Both have to do with feet. The first is this: I bought new shoes not long ago. It is typical for me to go through a pair of athletic shoes every six months or so, but I thought I could push it out a little further …
On Costly Nard and Cheap Hand Lotion
John 12:1-8 The image is still fixed in my mind. My dad was sick. We were deep into the long, hot summer after his first surgery and his recovery was, to put it simply, not going well. Several of us were home to visit. Daddy sat up in his recliner — his legs stretched out, swollen …
On Wine and Weddings
John 2:1-11 I was out to lunch with a friend the other day. It was noon on a Saturday and the restaurant was crowded. After we sat down I looked up to notice the group at the next table. There were four sitting there. The three women were knitting and the young man was looking on. …
Christ the King and Jesus Christ Superstar
John 18:33-37 I met a friend for a cup of tea the other day. She is going to be directing “Jesus Christ Superstar” at our local community theater in the spring and wanted to pick my brain a little bit. She told me something that surprised me — although perhaps it shouldn’t have. She told me …