Scripture: Luke 24:1-12 (NRSVue) At the dawn’s early light, literally at “deep dawn,” on the first day of the week, a new day began for the world. Jesus said he would rise, and he did....

Scripture: Luke 19:28-40 (NRSVue) For ten chapters in Luke, Jesus has slowly and methodically made his way to Jerusalem: teaching, preaching, and healing on the road. The winding pilgrim way from Jericho to Jerusalem is...

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12 (NRSVue) We’ve come full circle with Jesus’ Eight Beatitudes. The first beatitude is: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The eighth beatitude is: Blessed are...

Scripture: Matthew 5:9 (NRSVue) Peacemakers not only mend fences, they tear down walls and build bridges. In fact, you’re a bridge when you’re a peacemaker. And what happens to bridges? They get walked on. People...

Scripture: Matthew 5:8 (NRSVue) The sixth Beatitude of Jesus is “blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”  The heart in the Scriptures has a different meaning than what we give the...

Scripture: Matthew 5:7 (NRSVue) This fifth beatitude of Jesus is unique: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.” The reward is the exact same thing as the deed. Mercy for mercy. If you...

Scripture: Matthew 5:6 (NRSVue) The great Danish philosopher and theologian Soren Kierkegaard once said, “Man’s supreme perfection is to be in need of God.” This is The Great Reversal Jesus repeatedly talks about throughout his...

Scripture: Matthew 5:5 (NRSVue) One of the defining characteristics of the meek is their relationship to anger. The meek get angry, but they don’t lose their temper. They use their anger for good. But the...

Scripture: Matthew 5:3 (NRSVue) Faith is famously defined in the book of Hebrews as “the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen.” But the first beatitude “blessed are the poor...

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12 (NRSVue) The Beatitudes’ influence is all around us, whether we know it or not. The proverb “patience is a virtue” comes from a poem about the Beatitudes. You can find the Beatitudes...

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-6 (NRSVue)* When you read the book of Revelation in its entirety, you encounter basically two kinds of visions—visions that either threaten or assure. These visions increase in intensity—and then rise to a...

Scripture: Psalm 71:14-24 (NRSV) Our morning psalm is a Psalm of Old Age: “So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to all generations...