Drops in the Ocean

In reflecting on the poetry of Mother Teresa that was shared with us this week, I was drawn into wondering about the essence of Christian service, as it contributes to the cost of discipleship. Mother Teresa’s words encapsulate the sacrificial nature of love, echoing the teachings of Jesus Christ himself.  Am I ready for that kind of sacrifice?  Are you?

All In

What’s with this “ALL IN” as my title territory? I’m never quite sure if I understand current cultural jargon, but I think this two-word phrase is used to convey the most thoroughgoing commitment to something–a project, a proposal, a possibility. Well, that’s the turf traversed in Mark’s text here.

Costly Love

Last week it was the Pharisees that came to test Jesus.  They had asserted themselves, in concert with the civic ruling authorities, to be the primary arbiters over the theological integrity of religious practice.  And they didn’t much appreciate Jesus’ challenging their traditions, let alone their theology.  Change, especially when it’s prompted by others, can be a threatening catalyst.

Grace Ain’t So Cheap

In reflecting on the profound writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer that were shared on Wednesday, we are invited into a deeper understanding of what it truly means to live as disciples of Christ. Bonhoeffer’s journey toward faith led him through the realization that true faith is not found in striving to live a saintly life apart from the world, but rather in fully engaging with the complexities and challenges of life itself.

A Disturbing Story for Disturbing Times

If you were asked what is your favorite parable, what would your answer be?  I think I can safely bet it isn’t the “Parable of the Wicked Tenants.” It’s an uncomfortable story, a disturbing story, that Jesus told the priests, scribes and elders who questioned his authority.  

Whose World Is It?

As we journey through this Lenten season, we find ourselves walking alongside Jesus, witnessing the profound depth of his teachings and the sacrifices inherent in discipleship. In yesterday’s lessons from Mark’s gospel, Jesus uses with the parable of the vineyard owner and the tenants and an encounter with the Pharisees regarding taxes to show us the way of discipleship. These passages reveal a weighty responsibility placed upon us as followers of Jesus.