He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and … Continue reading Crumbling Walls with the Sound of Saving Grace
“While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. But some were there who said to one another in anger, … Continue reading The Breaking of Precious Things
Scripture: John 8:1-11 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center … Continue reading Dealing Lovingly & Nonjudgmentally Toward Others
Defined by her work and her past, Lydia nevertheless overcomes societal biases and makes a huge impact of the establishment of Christian faith in the city of Philippi. While most commentators define Lydia as a wealthy merchant, this may not be the case.[1] Lydia is from Thyatira in the region of Lydia, for which she … Continue reading Lydia: A Dyer of Purple who Tints a City with her Faith
Between the conspiring of the religious leaders to kill Jesus and the devastating betrayal of a close friend, we have the opportunity in the Gospel of Mark to pause and smell the sweet fragrance of faithfulness, the aroma of devotion to Jesus that permeates the air from an act of sacrificial love. Let us linger … Continue reading Remembering Her Fragrant Faithfulness
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Luke 1:42 NRSV) I find it amazing that Elizabeth was able to see that Mary had been blessed. Now, scripture tells us that before she spoke, she was filled with the Holy Spirit, but one has to be open to Spirit. … Continue reading Seeing the Blessing
In Luke’s Gospel, we have the account of the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary to inform her that she has found favor in God’s sight. In Mary’s conversation with Gabriel we are informed that God has chosen her to give birth to God’s own Son, who will be named Jesus. This conversation ends with Mary’s … Continue reading Taking a Risk in Saying Yes: Mary’s Faith
The woman answered him, “I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!” (John 4:17-18 NSRV) The Samaritan woman at the well is a … Continue reading Do you know the woman at the well? Probably not
Michelle Mosier 