When I read the account of the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15, what strikes me the most is how well they listened. After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to them… (verse 7) The whole assembly fell silent, and they listened… (verse 12) After they had fallen silent, James responded… […]

Today we hear the story of Philip and the Ethiopian. The Bible tells us how God had been working in Philip’s life and how he ended up on that desert road. But we are not informed of the journey that led the Ethiopian man to God. We know he was returning home after going to […]

One thing that frustrates me about myself is my lack of ability to remember people’s names. This bothers me because names are important; they speak to our identity, and something special happens when we are called by our name. Sometimes, just minutes after I ask someone their name, my mind goes blank, and I have […]

Everything changes when you have a child, even sometimes your name. I went from being known by my name to being known as my sons’ mom. Under my new name, those who know my sons can now know me. The relationship between God and his people was defined through his relationship with Abraham. Even God […]

In Scripture, whenever I hear the words, “Blessed are they who…,” I brace myself for a challenge. Remembering that the Cross of Jesus is a contradiction, I open my mind to the truth that, when we compare God’s ways with the ways of the world, often, what seems bad is good, and what seems good […]

“I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life.” (Deuteronomy 30:19). Between life and death, one would think we would always choose life. Then, why do we (so very often) choose sin? Because this “life” Moses presents to us comes as a blessing in disguise. “The Son of Man […]

My brothers and sisters, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. (James 2:1) “Adhere” … what an interesting word choice. It means “to bind oneself to observance.” It is an intentional choice, and it comes with responsibilities and consequences. Faith in Jesus requires us to love what […]

Our first Reading begins today with a deathbed conversation between a father and his son. God had promised David that if his sons remained faithful to him, he would always have someone from his line on the throne. He told Solomon, “Keep the mandate of the Lord.” Words under the shadow of death carry extra […]

[Jesus] told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd so that they would not crush him. He had cured many, and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. (Mark 3:9-10) What a blessing those diseases were! They moved people to seek Jesus, […]

Beloved, we love God because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19) After reading these words, I almost want to leave the rest of the page blank and allow ourselves the time and space to let them sink in profoundly… he first loved us… he first loved you…he first loved me… Do we believe this? Do […]