The Forward Day by Day Archives
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- All our lessons today burst with intrigue. There is trouble in David’s court, and Absalom has just been killed. Paul’s imprisonment continues, and the plot thickens. In Mark, Jesus is wrapping up a fraught debate session with those wily priests and scribes.One of the beautiful things about the Daily Office Lectionary and its guide to reading through scripture is the opportunity to read the psalms in quantity. Reading them this way is a bit like reading an epic, generational novel. The whole human experience is there: longing, rage, despair, praise, de....My first memory of this verse is from a nineteenth-century primitive chapel. Behind the altar is a massive plate-glass window, which overlooks miles and miles of the ancient Ozark Mountains. Carved above the window is the inscription: I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my....I just love this story, which is euphemistically referred to as “The Cleansing of the Temple.” How are we to understand what’s going on here? Through the interpretive lens of two millennia, we figure Jesus has every reason for his unexpected actions and that the moneychangers get what they des....The entire twelfth chapter of the letter to the Hebrews is a great love letter to the forerunners of our faith. These ancestral heroes endured suffering, fought mightily, and persevered in the faith.
Therefore, we must remember on whose shoulders we stand and have the eyes to see that....
Paul is a problematic character. Many people of faith, biblical scholars, and even casual Bible readers have a hard time with him and some of the teachings ascribed to him.But never mind that. We may argue about the Apostle Paul but what do we do with Saul....
Even those who don’t know the Bible or practice the faith talk about “the road to Damascus” as a place of great epiphany or change of heart.Saul, a devout and dedicated Jew, has been rounding up followers of Christ in an attempt to eradicate what he ....
THURSDAY, August 15
Saint Mary the VirginIn her appearances to the faithful over the millennia, Mary always comes dressed as a local. At the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, enormous mosaics from 43 countries honor Our Lady. In each picture, she bears the physical characteristics of the contributing land. My personal favorite is O....When my spouse retired, we simplified a lot of things about our life. As we downsized, we had to make decisions about every single item we owned. This exercise got easier as we went along and ultimately resulted in lighter spirits and a more nimble life. It’s not about the stuff.....The crowds, the Pharisees, the disciples, the parents, the children—everybody wants something from Jesus. The crowds want teachings and healings. The Pharisees want to trap Jesus. The disciples want Jesus to themselves. The parents seek a blessing for their children. As always, Jesus provides the ....Today’s lessons are not the kinds of scripture passages we cross stitch on pillows. We don’t get to select only the bits of the Bible we want to spend time with, like picking out the pretzels from the party mix. Christians believe the Bible to be the Word of God, inherited from the Almighty and ....There are different estimates of exactly how many times Jesus speaks some variation of “Do not be afraid.” No matter the number, the recurring message is clear: Do not be afraid.Life is a creative process. The tools we might need as we make ou....
There is a high level of stress and disorder in our gospel passage. Jesus tells his friends—for the second time—about his impending death and resurrection. They don’t understand, as usual. Despite seeing Jesus’ wondrous powers, despite walking and talking with Jesus intimately, Jesus’ foll....Today we hear the prophetic version of Just wait until your Father gets home. Nathan is so angry he is practically sputtering and tells the king a tale of injustice concerning two men and an ewe lamb. David declares the act of injustice to be punishable by death. Then, Nathan springs the tr....The last sentence in today’s framing verse is one of the great biblical understatements of all time. David has perpetrated a complicated, power-abusing plot upon Bathsheba and her husband Uriah—because he desired Bathsheba. The greatest king in the history of Israel, chosen as a child, dearly be....It feels a little out of character for Jesus to sound so darkly apocalyptic, so cryptic. “Some of you,” he says pointedly, “will still be alive when the kingdom of God has come.” And Christians have argued ever since: What? Which of us?When?TUESDAY, August 6
The TransfigurationHuman babies love faces. When babies see joy and delight in those who love them, they learn how to be joyful and delighted. The way my parents’ faces reflected their love for me when they gazed at my babyself taught me the life-truth that I am loved. The light in their eyes taught me one way to sh....Today’s passage from the life of King David speaks to the close, familial relationship David has with God. Remember a couple of days ago when we started reading about David declining to host the Ark of the Covenant? David feels it is unseemly for the Ark of the Covenant to be housed in the tent of....All things pass away, and our priorities change over time. As we grow older, we realize that the toy at Christmas, the crush on that person, or the effort to make more money matter less than they used to. Not that those things weren’t or aren’t important—it’s just that with time, some things....For the next few days, we will read about King David returning from a military triumph and some of the decisions he makes in setting up his reign. He has named the new capital after himself and come into possession of the Ark of the Covenant—the most important physical possession in Israel. But Da....
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