The Forward Day by Day Archives
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MONDAY, June 24
Nativity of John the BaptistThe readings today revolve around John the Baptist. We can read these passages and think only of John, or we can broaden our view that we too have been called to spread the news of Jesus’ coming. That’s what we are charged to do as Christians—to “go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to gi....- The encounter between Jesus and the Gerasene demoniac means a lot to me. I see myself in this man—not that I run around naked among the tombs, but I have let other forces sway me. No matter what I did, or whatever steps I took to change things, I would “be driven by the demon into the wilds.” ....
- Luke writes about the apostles’ testimony during the beginning months and years of the early church, and that whole testimony hinges on one thing: the resurrection of Jesus. The apostles speak and act with great power and grace rests upon them. Today, some folks place the resurrection in the myth ....
- Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.
I have a friend who, when involved in a conversation, always listens first. He waits, listens, observes—and when he does speak, it is almost always something worth saying. This ability to listen is a bea....
- Jesus is not pulling punches when he denounces the ostentation of the scribes in the temple, and then graciously acknowledges the widow’s offering. No one greets this little old lady with respect in the marketplace. When she prays, she does not use fancy flowery language. But Jesus singles her out....
- We call them “leaps of faith,” and they represent the physical manifestation of risk, effort, hope, and belief all in one swift motion. Many of us find it easier to keep our feet on the ground, raising the same kinds of questions as the Sadducees.
S....
- As a neurosurgeon, it is very easy to have an ego that gets in the way of being rightly related to God. Ego gets in the way of living a life that has God at the center because it wants to be the center. The psalm reading today makes me mindful of this fact. The psalmist recounts several instances in....
- We could approach the parable of the wicked tenants in several ways, but I like to focus on the fact that the tenants do not actually own the land. They only work it, which reminds me of a hymn I love.
We give thee but thine own,
<....
SUNDAY, June 16 Trinity Sunday
When I think about the Creator of the universe holding me in one hand and pouring love into me with the other hand, everything else seems trivial. Sure, I have bad moments and go through difficult times, but I have God’s love actually pouring into my heart.
<....- The chief priests, scribes, and elders come to Jesus and ask him all sorts of aggressive questions. Why can’t they just stop for a moment and listen to the message Jesus presents? The reason: Pride, plain and simple. The good news Jesus consistently teaches strips them of their worldly power and p....
- Jesus is both fully God and fully human, and in this gospel reading we see this description of him borne out quite well. As he draws near Jerusalem, Jesus weeps out of sadness and frustration at people’s blindness to what is right in front of them. The Living Word stands ready to come into Jerusal....
- Paul writes about the thorn in his flesh, which reminds him of his human frailty—but we still aren’t sure what he is talking about. Whatever this “thorn” is, Paul prays to the Lord for it to be taken away, but the answer he wants doesn’t come. God answers Paul’s request the same way God ....
- We might look at this parable about money and think that the returning king was overly harsh with the servant who did nothing with the money entrusted to him. We would be missing Jesus’ point.
I believe Jesus wants us to understand that we have been entru....
TUESDAY, June 11 Saint Barnabas, Apostle
Jesus warns his disciples that they will go out as “sheep into the midst of wolves,” and he gives them some instruction on how to handle being vulnerable and at risk of bodily harm. Jesus combines wisdom and innocence in ways that enable him to spread the good news effectively. He knows what par....- The question Jesus poses to the blind man on the road to Jericho seems awkward. “What do you want me to do for you?” Obviously, the man wants to see. Everybody knows this—yet Jesus still asks the question.
Jesus is concerned with what we need and want....
SUNDAY, June 9 Feast of Pentecost
Jesus tells us that God will send us an Advocate who will abide with us and in us. The Holy Spirit “will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.”We follow the person of Jesus, and we praise God the Father Almighty, creator o....
- Jesus gives a mute the ability to speak again, and this amazes some people—others, not so much. I have always had some trouble with the folks who want another sign in order to believe. How many signs do we need?
Even John the Baptist asks for one more. Je....
- When given the choice between an encounter with the living, breathing, and loving Word of God and anything else, there really is no choice. Jesus reminds Martha—and all of us reading this story—that she doesn’t have to worry or be distracted by anything else while he is with her, Mary, and Laz....
- Jesus answers the question of who our neighbors are with a parable of action. We don’t get to pick and choose our neighbors. We can never learn this lesson too many times: Everyone needs something.
Look around you. Somebody has an illness. Somebody just h....
- At almost every turn of his ministry, Jesus upsets the status quo. The seventy disciples Jesus sends out have come back from their first mission. They are fired up about all the signs and wonders they have done throughout the countryside in Jesus’ name.
O....
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