We may spiritually stumble because we do not pay attention, or we may stumble because we gladly enjoy that into which we are stumbling. Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit guides us to the light of God’s revelation in Jesus Christ (John 11:9-10). When we neglect the Holy Spirit, we trip and walk in darkness, and poison […]
Let us pray for the courage to embrace the world in the name of Christ: Father in heaven, the love of your Son led him to accept the suffering of the cross so that we might find life in divine forgiveness. Change our selfishness into self-giving. May we embrace the world you have given us […]
Let us pray to God who has revealed the divine kingdom in Christ: God, in Christ, you declared what is blessed and proclaimed that joy is found in your kingdom. Your kingdom honors what the word despises: Weakness, poverty, mourning, mercy, pity, meekness, purity, peace. May Christ’s Church and our lives reveal your kingdom. Amen. […]
Have fear and suspicion ever caused you to mistreat someone? In our Gospel Reading, fear and suspicion cause the religious leaders and even the disciple to mistreat a blind man. They wondered what sins he or his parents had committed to bring about his blindness. When he is healed and receives sight, the religious leaders […]
Let us pray to God our Father that Jesus be the source of our life: Creative and forgiving Father you let people experience your mercy when they encounter your Son, Jesus Christ. Attune us to his voice speaking your Word of forgiveness and love. Dispose us to follow his example as the Holy Spirit forms […]
In a spirited debate with a Samaritan woman, Jesus tells us that the place to worship is not as important as worshipping in “spirit and truth” (John 4:3-30; 39-42). We can worship God anywhere, even on White Top Mountain sitting high above the valley below looking into North Carolina, and as you may guess I […]
Let us pray that God move our hearts and wills to follow Christ: Loving God, we thank you for all who walk by faith. There is always spiritual light for those who wish to see. As we pause and revere you, stabilize our faith and give us strength. Amen. (B. D. Prewer)
To be “born from above” emphasizes a spiritual renewal beyond ourselves from God through the Holy Spirit, and when we are born from above it is may be experienced as being born anew or again (John 3:1-8). We are constantly born anew from above. Do not limit it to a one-time experience. When we are […]
The first coming of Jesus Christ was a dawning whose brightness only grows until Christ comes again (2 Peter 1:16-19). This dawning brightness grows in the sense that the message of God’s love revealed in Jesus Christ has gone beyond Galilee and Judea unto the ends of the earth, including where you are. This dawning […]
