Luke is not telling a story about Mary (he’s positing her for later) this is all about Martha!   Read More

Today is going to be a little different because this scripture begs us to dig into cultural context today. The ONLY way one can understand even a little bit about what Luke is doing here is to know a lot about historical context.  Read More

The story this week will have an interesting pace. We will almost feel Martha scurrying around while Mary is all chill and laid back. What we need to think about as the reader of Luke is how does he the Samaritan’s act of compassion merge with Mary and Martha’s private moment with Jesus?   Read More

When we get to the end of the story of the “Good” Samaritan, most readers think to themselves, “Ahh yes, a good neighbor does the good deed.” But is that what it means?  Read More

Every act of compassion the Samaritan demonstrates is deliberate, sacrificial, and deeply personal. Luke is making a huge point and the listeners were hearing it  Read More

The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was dangerous. A barren, winding path where robbers waited to strike. And here, on this cursed road, a man was ambushed. Stripped. Beaten. Left half-dead in the dirt—a shadow of a human being, clinging to life.  Read More

Leviticus 19:18 wasn’t just about legalistic definitions; it was about embodying God’s character in relationships. By asking for a definition of “neighbor,” the lawyer revealed a heart more concerned with boundaries than with love.  Read More

Most people are familiar with the Good Samaritan story. We'd call it a story about treating others as you would want to be treated. The Golden Rule. But that’s not the lesson at all. It’s actually a lesson about how, sometimes, we need to break cultural rules and laws if we want an Eternal Life in the Kingdom of God.  Read More

We’re stepping into one of the most profound moments in Jesus’ ministry It’s a passage filled with lessons about mission, rejection, authority, and joy…. the cosmic vision of Satan falling from heaven. Lot’s going on in this week’s readings that is intended to remind us of the power of God’s Kingdom.  Read More

God's abundance often shows up in unexpected ways: peace in the midst of chaos, strength when we feel weak, or relationships that enrich our lives. Many/most of the time... we overlook these blessings because we’re focused on what we lack.  Read More

We live in a world that often tells us to focus on what we lack: not enough time, not enough resources, not enough strength. But God calls us to see things differently. He asks us to bring what we have, however small it may seem, and trust Him to multiply it.   Read More

Does anyone remember this comedy sketch? Lucy and Ethel are working on a candy conveyor belt and become overwhelmed by the speed at which the candy is arriving. They can’t keep up, so they start eating the candy and stuffing it into their dresses to hide it. I think the disciples feel a little overwhelmed today!  Read More