by Lynda Hart | Oct 14, 2024
The rich man in the text was probably born rich…wealth and privilege that was getting in the way of his relationships with God and other people. One crucial aspect remains. “Jesus, looking at him, loved him.” Jesus’ purpose is not to shame or browbeat the young man,...
by Lynda Hart | Oct 6, 2024
First, in the Apostle’s Creed, we testify that we believe in, “the holy catholic church.” The word catholic, with the lowercase “c,” means universal. We recognize that the church is the body of Christ, and that we are brothers and sisters with Christians around...
by Lynda Hart | Sep 23, 2024
Last week the disciples argued among themselves about who’s the greatest. This week, they’re complaining about this other guy, this stumbling block to their status, power, and recognition. Today’s gospel is a continuation of last week’s story, and a variation on last...
by Lynda Hart | Sep 16, 2024
We all have to answer crucial questions in life. When we’re young, people ask, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” But, in time, the “What will you do with your life?” question requires a mature, thoughtful answer. But there may be no more significant question...
by Lynda Hart | Sep 9, 2024
The apostles thought she was a nuisance and asked Jesus to get rid of her. Jesus had gone to the region of Tyre and Sidon, modern-day Lebanon, and a local woman approached him for a favor. This was pagan country, home turf of the infamous Jezebel. ...
by Lynda Hart | Sep 2, 2024
In an article from a few years ago, a Lutheran pastor in Colorado, Rob Moss, wrote that his church had decided to quit being welcoming. He said that “like so many congregations, we’ve sunk an amazing amount of time and energy into becoming a welcoming church. We...
