In many newly built or recently renovated Christian worship spaces these days you will often discover something missing from the contemporary design: a cross or crucifix. In its place usually is a giant screen and stagecraft used for pop concerts. Ironically, many of these churches have strong stances against “the progressive agenda” and yet when […]
Tag: Jesus
On the Table
The Lord’s Supper (also referred to as Holy Communion or the Eucharist) is venerated on Maundy Thursday, as we remember when Jesus first instituted this sacrament during his final Passover Seder. (Side note: The responses I received from my reflection on Maundy Thursday last year inspired this current year-long series on the Church Year.) For […]
On Happy Days
If the Liturgical Calendar is a rollercoaster of sorts, Holy Week is when the most number of corkscrews, loops, drops, and twists occur. The week starts, though, with a smile as we ride up the lift-hill. Jesus enters Jerusalem for Passover, welcomed as a conquering hero. He rides a colt symbolizing peace while crowds gather […]
On the Paschal Moon
Have you ever noticed that there is always a full moon around the lead up to Easter? That is by design and this specific full moon is called the Paschal Moon. The date of Easter is determined by a somewhat cumbersome calculation: the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal (spring) equinox, […]
On Limitations
As we go through the season of Lent, participating in various spiritual practices to challenge our faith, we come to realize our limits. There is a good chance that by the third week of Lent, our original plans for this season of repentance and discipline have been altered, or even abandoned altogether. The Church Calendar […]
On Discipleship
Many of those who identify as Christians these days have a savior complex. Either they think they are called to be a savior, or they are looking for another humanly savior to preserve their worldview and way of life. However, when we ground our faith in the Gospel, we discover that we are not called […]
On the Mystical Mountaintop
The Epiphany season of the Church Calendar opens and closes with mystical mountaintop moments. The season began with a figurative mountaintop moment, celebrating the arrival of magi coming to bow down and worship the Christ Child. And now we conclude the season up on a literal mountaintop with the story we call “the transfiguration”. First, […]
On Proclaiming Good News
During this period of the Church Calendar known as Epiphany or the “the time Epiphany”, we look back on the “firsts” of Jesus’ ministry. Recently in this series of reflections, we have touched on how Jesus’ mission is introduced and how the first disciples were called. It is appropriate for us to also look at […]
On Being Called By God
Similar to how each of the four gospels differ regarding Jesus’ first acts of ministry (as explored in the last reflection), the formation stories regarding the first disciples also varies. There is much to learn from this and far more to discover than this one short reflection could possibly exhaust. Yet, let’s explore a few […]
On First Impressions
As much as the season of Epiphany is a time for discovering new realities about God in Christ, it is also a time for returning to the basics of the Gospel message. Many of the liturgical readings for this time of the year go back to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and each gospel narrative […]
Relevant Reformation 