EXPLORING THE BIBLE
Sunday 21 April – Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 65:17-25, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24, I Corinthians 15:19-26 or Acts 10:34-43, John 20:1-18 or Luke 24:1-12
Let me tell you an idle tale.
I will tell the story of Jesus living and working, announcing the kingdom of God. Of Jesus hanging on a tree, raised by God, appearing, eating and drinking and talking. I will stand in the line of witnesses from traditions and writings. I will eat and drink and talk. I will tell the story, sometimes using words.
Good Friday 19 April – Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12, Psalm 22, Hebrews 10:16-25 or Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9, John 18:1 – 19:42 (Luke 22:1-23:56)
On Good Friday I would prefer to stay with dying, death and an unresolved conclusion in a period of extended reflection. Because of this I would leave the Hebrews options as they offer a resolution through the suffering of Jesus as the great High Priest and require explanation of both the origin of quotations used and of the Jewish sacrificial system and temple worship of the time that would be distracting at this time.
Palm Sunday 14 April – Is 50:4-9a, Ps 118:1-2, 19-29, Phil 2:5-11, Lk 19:28-40
Our reading for Palm Sunday from Luke represents the culmination of Jesus’ long journey to Jerusalem and refers neither to palms nor Hosannas. This Jesus, in human form, comes to empty himself obedient to the point of death.
Sunday 7 April – Isaiah 43:16-21, Psalm 126, John 12:1-8, Philippians 3:4b-14
Make way! Let’s look forward. God is about to do a new thing. Let’s look past the pain of our exile. Can’t you sense the new thing coming? God who makes a way through the sea of chaos will make a way through the desert, the wilderness of our journey for we have been...
Luke 15
It turns out that God’s creation is all about detail.
Everyone has a part to play in this cosmic drama no matter how insignificant they may feel.
Luke 13; 1-9
Was it their sin that led to the disaster that ended their earthly existence? No! But you can do something about yours!