Speaker: Rev. CJ Valenti

Faith and religious practice have lost their center in this week’s readings. Quoting Isaiah, Jesus calls into question “This people” that “honors me with their lips” but whose “hearts are far from me” (Mark 7:6). Some in the religious community have begun focusing on surface matters (the washing of hands, what one eats, the traditions…

“This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” Jesus’ teaching about eating his flesh and drinking his blood isn’t something we can figure out and accept on our own. The good news of Jesus is too radical, unsettling, and illogical for us to accept. In this last week exploring Jesus as our Bread of life,…

“Come and dine,” Lady Wisdom beckons to us. “The table is set and there is a place for you.” Jesus echoes this invitation by saying he is the living bread for us to eat. This is a free party and all are welcome. So what is stopping you? Accompanying Scripture:Proverbs 9:1-6, Psalm 34:9-14, John 6:51-58

Jesus expands on this imagery of bread to be bigger than feeding us one meal. Jesus is the bread of life for today, tomorrow and forever. Regular bread can sustain us for a little while, as well as be a wonderful comfort to us. But the bread that Jesus is talking about is the sustenance…

After feasting on bread and fish, Jesus retreats and the crowd follows. As their stomachs begin to grumble again, they ask Jesus for a sign. Is he the one they have been waiting for. . .he may have fed them once but will he be able to support them for a lifetime? Jesus responds I…

Mark’s gospel makes clear how great is the press of the crowd, with its countless needs to be met, on Jesus and his disciples. Yet in today’s gospel, Jesus advises his disciples to get away and rest, to take care of themselves. Sometimes we think that when others are in great need we shouldn’t think…

Sometimes being a disciple of Jesus is risky business. It may mean we aren’t popular or well liked. It may mean we have to share a hard truth. And yet- Jesus reminds those disciples, we have all that we need to bring God’s love to the world around us.  Accompanying Scripture:Mark 6:1-13, Psalm 123, Ezekiel…

Sometimes it feels like we wait for a lifetime for God to hear us, see us, acknowledge us. Today we hear we are in good company – a woman who hemorrhages for 12 years seeks healing from Jesus at the same time as a desperate father for a dying daughter. With our loving God, we…

Through the storms of life, in Job’s trials and in the disciples’ seasick panic, God’s promise is not that we will be airlifted out of troubles but that God is with us. God proclaims to the chaos and to us – Peace! Be still. Accompanying Scripture:Mark 4:35-41, Psalm 107, Job 38: 1-11

In the midst of conflict and shame, the messiness of life and relationships are lifted up in these texts. No matter how entangled we become, with God there is always steadfast love and forgiveness. Accompanying Scripture:Psalm 130, Genesis 3:8-15, Mark 3:20-35