DEVOTIONAL: As a child, I loved the unbounded joy of Palm Sunday — Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem to the cries of “Hosanna” and the waving of branches. Mass always ended with ushers handing out priest-blessed strips of palm. My brothers, sisters and I eagerly took them home, made them into crosses and pinned them to our bedroom walls. (more…)

DEVOTIONAL: This passage — although it was written well before his time on Earth — reminds me of the suffering and shame Jesus endured for me, so I wouldn’t need to. I am reminded of how Jesus never faltered in his faith and how, when the time was right, he faced Jerusalem and his certain fate. The instruction in this passage is the same instruction Jesus followed. (more…)

DEVOTIONAL: My reading of Philippians 2:5-11 was deepened by Johannes Baptist Metz’s book, Poverty of Spirit, which is a meditation on this passage. Metz illuminates how several major heresies about the nature of Jesus attempt to deny Jesus’ humanity; so too, Metz observes, we seek to evade, ignore and reject our own humanity. (more…)

DEVOTIONAL: As I read over this passage, I am struck by the anticipation of the Psalmist. At a time when I am overcome with schoolwork, the numerous other jobs to be done and with no end in sight, I have not been looking ahead with anticipation. There is one verse in the psalm that catches my feelings precisely; “Save us, we beseech you, O Lord! O Lord, we beseech you give us success!” Help me! (more…)

THIS WEEK’S THEME: Hosanna! Look, your king is coming

DEVOTIONAL: By the end of this week we will be waving palm branches and celebrating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Jesus is coming! The season of Lent gives us the opportunity to make a space in our ordinary routines — a space in our lives into which we welcome God’s steadfast and transforming love. (more…)

DEVOTIONAL: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” Death bearing new life — a mystery for sure. Even though Jesus was talking about his physical death, this passage makes me consider my own state of affairs. What needs to “die” in my life? (more…)

DEVOTIONAL: Today’s text offers us a picture of Christ’s submission to God that leads to eternal salvation for all who believe and obey. In this text, Jesus lives into God’s reality and does not give up when worldly oppression bears in from every side. Instead of giving in, Jesus prays harder. (more…)

DEVOTIONAL: One of the many gifts of my childhood was the priority my parents placed on church. If there was a service, we were there, and it was important to be quiet and attentive. I loved the singing most of all, but it wasn’t a chore to sit still through the rest. I giggle at the memory that we even unwrapped our occasional pieces of candy before church to be sure there weren’t sounds of crinkling plastic during the sermon. (more…)

DEVOTIONAL: Francis Collins, an American-physicist and engineer, and also the head of the Human Genome Project, wrote a book about his work called The Language of God. He writes that, through his work and study of the intricate details and specifics of the human body including genes and DNA, it is clear that the mark of God has been written all over us. (more…)

THIS WEEK’S THEME: Whoever serves me must follow

DEVOTIONAL: Numerous times throughout the Gospels we hear Jesus command those who desire to serve him to “Follow me.” Usually this command is given to someone in a situation where leaving and following Jesus will cost them something. (more…)