DAILY READING Luke 19:28-40   As we read this text again today, we see several items given so that Jesus can enter Jerusalem in grand style. All of these gifts are important and of great worth but they each have a different focus. The owner gave his donkey because he was asked to by his master. He…

DAILY READING Luke 19:28-40   You know those scenes in movies or TV shows where the hero commandeers a civilian’s vehicle in order to chase down the bad guy? It’s humorous to me to imagine the disciples commandeering a civilian’s donkey for Jesus. “Get out of the way, the Lord needs it!”  No doubt there were many who thought this…

DAILY READING Luke 19:28-40   The listeners in Luke’s time would have understood the meaning behind the description of Jesus “going up to Jerusalem,” riding a colt that had never been ridden and entering the city with a welcome befitting a king. However, unlike an earthly king, who only holds dominion over his subjects, even the stones would praise Christ…

DAILY READING Luke 19:28-40   I am tempted in my personal prayer life to leap straight from, “Hey God” to “HELP!” I am quick to get to the work of confession: laying before God the places that I know I’m falling short in my discipleship, where I am missing the marks of compassion and forgiveness and goodness and generosity.    And…

DAILY READING John 12:1-8 As you have read this week, Mary is anointing Jesus’ feet with perfume and wiping them with her hair. I went looking but couldn’t find any place where someone told her she needed to do this, she did it of her own accord because she wanted to. Judas’ response was one of judgement because he did not understand why she was…

DAILY READING John 12:1-8 When reading this passage, I kept being drawn to the very end of verse three, “and the house was filled with the fragrances of the perfume.” Now, I will admit that I am likely taking some liberty with the passage, but the more I read that the more it read to me “and the house was filled with the essence…

DAILY READING John 12:1-8 Upon first reading – and depending on your translation – this text can seem difficult to swallow. If you’re just reading Judas’ words, he makes a good point about giving the money from the expensive perfume to the poor. Once you know his intention, though, it provides a better foundation for Jesus’ rebuke. The NRSV translation includes a note that Judas “said…

DAILY READING John 12:1-8 BUMC’s missional emphasis for the month of April is healthcare. Did you know BUMC partners with several ministries, both locally and globally, dedicated to providing accessible healthcare to those in need?  Give Ye Them To Eat (GYTTE) is a social outreach project in Tlancualpican, Mexico. Their community and family health program, “More Than a…

DAILY READING John 12:1-8 Here we have an exchange of gift-giving between Jesus and Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus. Mary is giving a gift to Jesus. It is given as a response to Jesus’ upcoming self-giving. She responds, she is responsible. Jesus is giving himself, whole and totally.  Derrida*, the French philosopher, asks a series…