Daily Devotions
New devotions are posted Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Thistle
In the bustling Greek city of Thessalonica, amidst the tumultuous winds of opposition, Paul and Silas planted the seeds of faith. The Book of Acts and Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians recounts their journey, marked by fervent preaching and fierce opposition. Like the resilient thistle that thrives in harsh conditions, their mission faced adversity, yet it bore the fruit of perseverance.
The thistle, with its prickly exterior, mirrors the challenges encountered by early Christians. Despite the hostile environment, their faith remained steadfast, rooted in the promise of resurrection. Just as the thistle’s deep roots anchor it in adversity, the early believers drew strength from their unwavering commitment to Christ.
In the face of uproar and opposition, the message of Christianity spread, echoing the resilience of the thistle. The believers in Thessalonica exemplified courage and resilience, embodying the essence of faith in a post-resurrection world.
The thistle remains a poignant metaphor for the Christian life, reminding us that adversity is not a hindrance but an opportunity for growth. Just as the thistle flourishes in harsh conditions, so too can our faith thrive amidst adversity. As we navigate the challenges of life, may we draw inspiration from the thistle and the early Christians, steadfast in our devotion and resilient in our faith.
May God’s peace find you today. – Pastor Peter
Let us pray… Empowering God, like the thistle thriving in adversity, may our faith deepen in the face of challenges, rooted in the promise of resurrection. Amen.
Previously…
Paradise!
We’ve finally arrived at Holy Week. This past Sunday we got a look at what’s to come and sang “Jesus Remember Me” during communion. It’s a hymn that reminds me of one of my favorite Bible verses in Luke. In the Gospel of Mark the two crucified with Jesus both taunted Jesus: “Those who were crucified with him also taunted him” (Mk 15:32b); but in Luke 23: 39-43 it reads, “One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’
At Home
On Sunday, March 17, we gathered to bless the third tiny home of our Sacred Settlement. This marked another important milestone as we continue building our community of support for those experiencing chronic homelessness. And, this is a great opportunity to reflect on the profound meaning of “home.”
Microphones of God
“Even when they call us mad, when they call us subversives and Communists, and all the epithets they put on us, we know that we only teach the subversive witness of the Beatitudes, which have turned everything upside down to proclaim, ‘Blessed are the poor, blessed are those who thirst for justice, blessed are those who suffer.’” In these stirring words of Bishop Oscar Romero shared with us on Wednesday night, we were reminded of the profound connection between discipleship and sacrifice.
The Little Apocalypse
The longest speech Jesus makes in the Gospel of Mark is chapter 13. We heard portions of it on Sunday, but with its length, we skipped over the middle third of it. As an apocalyptic text, it is supposed to comfort us and give us hope in dire times of wars, persecutions, natural disasters.