The history of Christian mission is God embracing those outside the covenant, and making them a part of the people of Christ filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:1-18). Together, all of us share in God’s grace and compassion and in turn share God’s grace and compassion with the world; yet, as the history of […]
“I turned 21 in prison doing life without parole. No one could steer me right, but mama tried. Mama tried, to raise me better, but her pleading I denied, that leaves only me to blame cause mama tried (Merle Haggard).” As the young man brought pain to himself and his mother by rejecting her voice, […]
Let us pray that we truly know and love the Lord Jesus: Our loving Father, you have let us experience how much you care for us by giving us Jesus as our Good Shepherd. He carries us in his heart, and may we be ever close to him so that we learn his voice, hear […]
Loving Father, our eyes have not seen your Son Jesus Christ. We have not touched the scars of his wounds, yet we come together in his name. May the Holy Spirit breathe new life within us and among us. May the Holy Spirit lead us to look with new eyes at our world so that […]
Christ’s Church is commissioned to carry out the task of offering forgiveness and the retaining of sin (John 20:22-33). Yet, how much healing has not happened because we refuse to forgive? When we retain sins that God has forgiven, we misuse the commission God has given us. We have the great privilege to convey the […]
Resurrection entails not only quantity but also a quality of life (1 Corinthians 15:19-26, 30-34, 56-58,49). Yet, we Christians have been indifferent to the structures of society that foster injustice. We have felt little sympathy for the plight of poor immigrants. On personal and social levels we have allowed prejudice to cloud our judgment and/or […]
Let us pray to our God of mercy who fills our lives with love and joy: God, we no longer look for Jesus among the dead, for he is alive and has become the Lord of life. From the waters of death, you raise us with him and renew your gift of life within us. […]
Let us pray that we follow Jesus on his road of service: God our Father, in Jesus your Son you have shown us that the road that leads to victory is the way of loving service and willingness to pay the price of sacrifice for faithful, unswerving love. Give us the mentality and attitude of […]
Paul the Apostle chose to share in the sufferings of Christ (Philippians 3:4-12). “Sharing in the sufferings of Christ” is not remaining in an abusive relationship where one’s vulnerabilities and weaknesses are exploited and taken advantage of. Rather, “sharing the sufferings of Christ” is like this: “We suffer in likeness with Christ when we suffer […]
Let us ask our Father that we imitate his mercy: God of life, Jesus, your Son reveals to us that love is stronger than death, and you wish the sinner to live and to become new. May we no longer live in the past of sin but make us free for life and love. Give […]
