Luke 22:14-23:56 “He stirs the people up by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.” — The Chief Priests and the Scribes (Luke 23:5) There is stirring up and there is stirring up, of course. It jumped out at me though, this time through, this vivid description of the …
Tag: Luke
Through the Eyes of the Younger Brother…
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 I was in the self-checkout at the grocery store the other day when I overheard an animated conversation between two of the workers there: a young man and an older woman. I have no details as my ears tuned in late to their exchange, but what I overheard was this. He was …
But Unless You Repent…
Luke 13:1-9 I was driving to work a few days back, listening to the news for the short minutes between home and the church. Much of the news is about Ukraine these days, of course, and the report being shared was no different. In this instance, one (among millions and millions) whose world has been …
Mining the Metaphor: Jesus as a Mother Hen
Luke 13:31-35 It’s such an everyday metaphor Jesus offers now. And yet, while most of us know what a chicken is, the vast, vast majority of us (myself included) have little actual firsthand knowledge of chickens. So it was that early in the week I thought to reach out to a friend who began raising …
This Very Long Time: Wilderness Ponderings
Luke 4:1-13 I was in a conversation with one from a nearby seminary a few days back. She’s in charge of philanthropic giving. She’s new to the work, at least in this particular place, and so she is spending this time getting acquainted. In particular, she has just been picking up the phone and reaching …
On the Mountaintop: From Bondage to Freedom
Exodus 34:29-35 Luke 9:28-43A I stood at my kitchen window this morning, squinting out at the sunshine and the snow. We had high winds last night. Winds which impeded the sight of anyone who found themselves out and about any time after sunset yesterday, what with the light snow we had the day before. Today, …
Blessed Are The Poor…
Luke 6:17-26 I got the call a few days back. If you sit in a chair like mine, you’ve gotten them as well, and maybe more often now than ever. She had called before. In fact, following her plea for help with rent we had paid half in early December. Two months later, her situation …
“Until Everyone Is Free…””
Luke 4:14-21 “He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” To tell you the truth, I have been wrestling with this piece of Luke’s Gospel ever since I opened it up at …
The Baptism of Jesus and a Covid-19 Testing Line
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 In spent an hour in a Covid-19 testing line the other day. Only an hour, give or take, because the community where I live is not especially large and we are fortunate to have a couple of such walk-up sites. Only an hour, although it took that long to find the place …
On Stars and a Borrowed Baby Jesus and Making Room
Luke 2:1-20 John 1:1-14 I sit to write on Christmas Eve, trying, and trying again as I have for days, to bring words to the meaning of this day. For myself, of course, yes, but also for those who will gather in a few short hours now. Last Christmas was almost unrecognizable for all that …