Lent Reflections

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and…

A Tree and Its Fruit Imagine you’re a disciple in Luke 6… As the sun begins to cast morning shadows, we see that Jesus has finished praying. He picks his way over the mountain side toward us. He calls us to him and chooses twelve as his apostles, the “sent ones.” Among the jostling of Simon, Andrew, James, and the rest I’ve been selected. I’ve given up everything to follow Him. I’ve made it into the in-crowd. Jesus heads down…

Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you.  Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.  For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”  He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man?   Will they not both fall into a pit?  A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like…

Love Your Enemies 27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to…

American cartoonist William Ely Hill published “My Wife and My Mother-in-Law” in an American humour magazine in 1915, with the caption “They are both in this picture — Find them.” This world-famous image has entertained people for over a century. Can you find both of these women in this illusion? Which woman did you see first?  Wikipedia tells us that a 2018 Australian study conducted by two psychology professors concluded that it has to do with your age. According to the…

Then he looked up at his disciples When Jesus looks up at you, what do you feel? Where does your mind go? What happens to your heart? How does your posture change? Where does your body pull you? and said And when he opens his mouth to speak to you? What then? None of us encounter Jesus empty-handed. We’re all holding on to something.  Maybe we’ve been wounded and are coming to him holding the hope of healing. Or maybe…