Grace Abounds

On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the glorious good news that “Christ is Risen!” Jesus Christ joined with us so that we might join with him. He suffered with us and assures us we never suffer alone in this broken world. He took our sin and death as his own and gives us life now and forever. And one day, he will come again and make all things new. In Christ, we know that “Everything will be okay in th...

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The night before his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, Jesus shares a meal with his beloved friends Martha, Mary, and Lazarus (John 12:1-8) - a meal at which Mary pours costly perfume on the feet of Jesus and wipes his feet with her hair. This sacrificial act of love is a demonstration of Mary’s gratitude and devotion for Jesus - and a signifier of the sacrificial love Jesus demonstrates for us all.

“A man had two sons…” So begins what is commonly called “The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 11:15-32). Given that prodigal means “recklessly extravagant,” perhaps this is more aptly called “The Parable of the Prodigal Father,” who is recklessly extravagant in his love for both of his wayward sons. With this story, Jesus invites us to reflect on our response to the grace of God - for ourselves a...

Jesus tells the Parable of the Fig Tree (Luke 13:9) after speaking of two tragic events that had taken place in Jerusalem. He tells this parable as he is on his way to Jerusalem - where he too will experience great suffering and death, and will rise again from death to life. Jesus embodies the gospel truth that sin and suffering and death are not the end of the story, and “all shall be well, and a...

Jesus tells the Parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8) to encourage his followers “to pray always and not to lose heart.” With this story of a tenacious woman, Jesus encourages us to make our requests known to our good and gracious Lord - trusting that God hears our prayers, cares for us, and will, ultimately, make things right. As Jesus himself teaches and embodies, whatever else God may o...

The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-3) is a test of his identity and mission - who he is and what he will do. We too are tempted to forget our identity as God’s beloved children and fall short of our mission to do God’s good work in this broken world. May we overcome these temptations, as Jesus did. May we remember who, and whose, we are. May we do what our good and gracious Creato...

In the midst of his public ministry, Jesus gave a sermon with sound practical advice for living well in relationship with God and each other. In this Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:27-38) - known as the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew - Jesus teaches his disciples to love fully, to give generously, and not to judge. What would this world be like if we all followed his advice?

Redwoods in Sequoia National Park. Pines that surround Jenny Lake in the Grant Tetors. Cottonwoods on the Big Sycamore Canyon Trail in Thousand Oaks. Trees are a beautiful and vital part of God’s good creation. Trees also serve in Scripture’s wisdom literature (e.g. Psalm 1 and Jeremiah 17) as representatives for people who are rooted in God’s Word, resilient in their faith in Christ, and fruitful...

Some of the first disciples Jesus called in his public ministry were two sets of fisherman brothers: Peter & Andrew and James & John. Jesus invited them to cast the net of God’s grace far and wide into the deep ocean of humanity and bring all people into the beloved community of Christ. May we do the same. May we share the good news. May we catch people for Jesus, as Jesus himself caught u...

After declaring he is the Savior, Jesus then declares that  the salvation he brings is for all people (Luke 4:14-30). Jesus embodied God’s love for everyone. He taught us to love God, love our neighbors as ourselves, love our enemies. He showed us love that is - as the Apostle Paul describes it (1 Corinthians 13) - patient and kind and respectful, humble and understanding and authentic, hopef...

One Sabbath day in the synagogue, Jesus reads from Isaiah the promise of the Messiah who will bring God’s good news and healing and freedom (Luke 4:14-21). He then rolls up the scroll and says, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Jesus the Messiah continues to fulfill the promises of God, continues to bring healing and freedom and peace, continues to give eternal life in th...

As the Gospel of John recounts (John 2:1-11), one of the first things Jesus does after calling his disciples is take them to a party, a wedding in Cana, where he turns water into wine - about 800 bottles of the good stuff. Jesus keeps the party going, and reveals the abundant blessings of our good and gracious Creator. May we too overflow with the blessings of God.

At the baptism of Jesus, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove and the voice of God the Father said from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” When we are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we are immersed in the divine relationship of love and God says to us, ‘You are my beloved child, with you I am well pleased.’ May we hear these words as word...

In his song over his infant son John, Zachariah praises God for sending the Savior who will “guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:67-80). As we celebrate the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ, may we know his peace. May we experience the peace that passes understanding, that is not based in our circumstances but in the Lord, that guards our hearts and minds in anxious times (Philippians 4...

The Visitation (Luke 1:39-55) is a joyous meeting between Mary and Elizabeth, as both are -  unexpectedly - expecting. Joy resounds through their encounter as Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, blesses Mary, the mother of Jesus - and Mary resounds with a song rejoicing in God our Savior. How might you follow the example of Mary and Elizabeth in their celebration of God’s grace? What m...

In the eyes of the world, Mary seemed ordinary - a poor young woman from a small village planning to marry her fiance Joseph, settle down, and be a carpenter’s wife. In the eyes of God, Mary was extraordinary. As the Gospel of Luke recounts (Luke 1:26-38), the Lord called Mary to give birth to Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. And Mary said, ‘yes.’ As we celebrate the birth of her Son, may we...

The Christmas Story (Luke 2:1-20) is the story of God showing up in a most unexpected way - in the flesh, in the person of Jesus Christ, a baby conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born to his mother Mary. Luke begins his Gospel narrative by preparing the way for the birth of Jesus with the birth of John the Baptist - and how God shows up for John’s parents, Elizabeth and Zachariah (Luke...

“What is truth?” The question Pilate asked Jesus (John 18:33-38) seems especially difficult to answer in our contemporary moment of social media misinformation, competing cable news pundits, and advertising filled with false promises. While it may be difficult to know what is truth, we can know who is Truth - as the Truth, Jesus Christ, explains to Pilate (though Pilate, tragically, does not liste...

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says to his listeners “do not worry” (Matt 6:25-31) - which may feel easier said than done in these worrying times. But Jesus himself embodies the reason not to worry - God our Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer is with us and for us forever. God knows our needs and cares for us. God will provide for us as he provides for the sparrows and lilies.  How might you exp...

All Saints Sunday is a time to remember those who have gone before us into glory. As we remember the saints in our lives, may we remember that we too are saints. We called by our Savior to share the truly good news that Christ has swallowed up death forever, he is making all things new and, one day, he will welcome us home with all the saints of God.

On Reformation Sunday, we celebrate the work of Martin Luther and other reformers who transformed the church and the world with the gospel truth we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Christ has set us free from sin and death and worries over our own salvation, and free for life and love and service to God and others. How might you embrace your freedom in Jesus Christ?

As Jesus journeys to Jerusalem (Mark 10:32-45), he teaches his quarreling disciples that true and lasting power is not power over others, but power for others. True and lasting greatness is found not in being served, but in serving. We are not to ‘lord it over’ others, but to care for each other as beloved children of our one gracious Lord. What does this teaching of Jesus mean for you today?

It is because Jesus loves the rich man (Mark 10:17-31) that he calls the rich man to sell his possessions and give the money to the poor and come and follow Jesus. It is because Jesus loves us that he calls us to come and follow him, love God and our neighbors, and embrace generosity. How might we give of our time and talents and treasures to the work of the Lord today?

In Mark 10:2-16, Jesus affirms the dignity of women and children in a society that often disregarded them. He reminds his critics and disciples that each and every human being is made in the image of God and welcomed with open arms by our compassionate Creator. How might we bring this Gospel truth into all of our relationships?