progressive involvement

Lectionary blogging: Easter 6: John 14: 23-29

Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. ²⁴Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

25 ‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. ²⁶But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. ²⁷Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. ²⁸You heard me say to you, “I am going away, and I am coming to you.” If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. ²⁹And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.

Translation:  Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone might love me, that one will keep my word, and my Father will love that one, and we will come to them, and we will make our dwelling place alongside them.  The one not loving me does not keep my words, and the word which you hear is not mine but the Father's, the one who sent me.  These things I have spoken to you abiding alongside you, but the One-Called-Alongside, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, that one will teach you all things, and will remind you of all I have said to you.

Peace I leave to you.  My peace I give to you, not as the universe gives, I myself give to you.  Let not let your heart be troubled, and let it not be timid.  You heard that I said to you, 'I go and I come to you.'  If you were loving me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father because the Father is greater than I.  And now, I have told you before it comes to be so that, when it happens, you might trust.

Lectionary blogging: Easter 5: John 13: 31-35

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. ³²If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. ³³Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ ³⁴I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. ³⁵By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Translation:  Then, when he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the son of man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.  If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and immediately he will glorify him. 

Little children, I am with you yet a little.  You will seek me, and just as I said to the Judeans, 'Where I go, you are not able to come,' I say to you now. 

I give to you a new commandment, that you might love one another just as I have loved you so that you also might love one another.  By this, all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

 

Yesterday in history

 

Lectionary blogging: Easter 4: John 10: 22-30

At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, ²³and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. ²⁴So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” ²⁵Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; ²⁶but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. ²⁷My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. ³⁰The Father and I are one.”

Translation:  Then it happened at the dedication in Jerusalem.  It was winter.  And Jesus was walking around in the Temple in the portico of Solomon.  Then the Judeans surrounded him and said to him, "Until when will you lift up our life?  If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."  Jesus answered them, "I told you and you did not trust.  The works which I do in the name of my Father, these things witness concerning me.  But you do not trust because you are not of my sheep.  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  And I give to them life eternal, and they will surely not perish into the eternal, and no one can snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, the one who has given to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch out of my Father's hand.  I and the Father are one."

 

Requiscat in pacem, Annette Funicello

 

Lectionary blogging: Easter 3: John 21: 1-19

After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. ²Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. ³Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. ⁴Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. ⁵Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” ⁶He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. ⁷That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. ⁸But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. ⁹When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. ¹⁰Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” ¹¹So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn.¹²Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. ¹³Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. ¹⁴This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

¹⁵When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” ¹⁶A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” ¹⁷He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” ¹⁹(He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Translation:  After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed in this way:  They were together: Simon Peter, Thomas (the one called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, and the ones of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples.  Simon Peter said to them, "I am going to fish."  They said to him, "We also go with you."  They went out and entered into the boat, and in that night, they caught nothing.

And when morning was now coming to be, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples did not know it is Jesus.  Then Jesus said to them, "Children, do you not have fish?"  They answered him, "No."  And he said to them, "Throw the net out into the right part of the boat and you will find."  Then they threw out, and they were not strong enough to draw it because of the multitude of fish.  Then that disciple, the one Jesus was loving, said to Peter, "It is the Lord."  Then Simon Peter heard that it is the Lord.  He put on the outer garment, for he was naked, and threw himself into the sea.

But the other disciples came in the little boat for they were not far from land, about two hundred cubits away, drawing the net of fish.  Then, just as they stepped off onto the land, they saw a charcoal fire laid and fish laid upon (it) and bread.  Jesus said to them, "Bring from the fish which you have now caught."

Therefore Simon Peter went up and drew the net full of great fish onto the land, 153, and being so many, the net was not torn.  Jesus said to them, "Come have breakfast."  But no one of the disciples were daring to ask him, "Who are you?" knowing that it is the Lord.  And Jesus is coming and is taking the bread and giving it to them, and the fish likewise.  This is now the third time Jesus was revealed to the disciples (after) he was raised out of death.

Then, when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Do you love (agape) me more than these?"  He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love (philei) you."  He said to him, "Feed my lambs."  He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) me?"  He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love (philei) you."  He said to him, "Feed my sheep."  He said to him a third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love (philei) me?"  Peter was sorrowful that he said to him a third time, "Do you love (philei) me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know all things.  You know that I love (philei) you."  He said to him, "Tend my sheep."

"Truly, Truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you were girding yourself and you were walking around when (and) where you were wishing.  But when you might be old, you will stretch your hands, and another will gird you, and will bring (you) where you do not wish."  But he said this signifying by what kind of death he will glorify God.  And speaking this, he said to him, "Follow me."

Lectionary blogging: Easter 2: John 20: 19-31

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ ²⁰After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. ²¹Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ ²²When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’

Translation:  Therefore, being evening of that day, the first of sabbath, the doors having been shut where the disciples were because of the fear of the Judeans, Jesus came and stood in the midst and he said to them, "Peace to you."  And when he said this, he showed to them the hands and the side.  Then, the disciples rejoiced, seeing the Lord.   Then, Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you.  Just as the Father has sent me, so I send you."  And when he had said this, he breathed and said to them, "Receive the holy spirit.  If you release the sins of any, they have been released to them, and if you might hold (the sins) of any, they have been held."

Rio Grande del Norte

The new National Monument in the neighborhood.  It is located northwest of Taos in beautiful northern New Mexico.  Below are some out-takes from the This American Life presentation on Rio Grande Del Norte which can be seen here.

 

Lectionary blogging: Easter Sunday: Luke 24: 1-12

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. ²They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³but when they went in, they did not find the body. ⁴While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. ⁵The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. ⁶Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,⁷that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” ⁸Then they remembered his words, ⁹and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. ¹⁰Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. ¹¹But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. ¹²But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

Translation:  But on the first of sabbath, at deep dawn, they came to the tomb to bring the spices they had made ready, and they found the stone had been rolled away from the tomb.  But when they entered in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 

And it happened, in their perplexity concerning this, behold, two men in shining clothes came to them.  And as they were being afraid, and bowed (their) faces to the ground, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living with the dead?  He is not here, but he has been raised.  Remember what he spoke to you, yet being in Galilee, saying, 'It is necessary (for) the son of man to be delivered into the hands of sinful human beings, and to be crucified, and on the third day to rise?" 

And they remembered his words, and returned from the tomb.  They told all these things to the eleven and all the others.  And it was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary of James, and the others with them.  They said these things to the apostles, and their words seemed like nonsense before them, and they were not trusting them.  Then Peter arose, and ran to the tomb, and stooping down, he sees the linen clothes laid by themselves.  He departed, wondering to himself at what had happened.

Lectionary blogging: Palm Sunday: Luke 19: 28-40

After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. ²⁹When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, ³⁰saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here.³¹If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” ³²So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. ³³As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” ³⁴They said, “The Lord needs it.”³⁵Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. ³⁶As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road.³⁷As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, ³⁸saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” ³⁹Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” ⁴⁰He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”

Translation:  And after he said this, he was journeying ahead, going up into Jerusalem.  And it happened just as he drew near into Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount, the one called Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, "Go into the opposite village, in which you enter.  You will find a colt having been tied upon which no human being has ever sat.  Untie it, and bring.  If someone might ask you, 'Why do you untie?' you will answer, 'The Lord has need of it.'"  The ones that were sent went.  They found just as he said to them.  And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why do you untie the colt?"  And they said, "The Lord has need of it." 

And they brought it to Jesus, and they cast their cloaks upon the colt, and they sat Jesus.  And as he was journeying, they were spreading their cloaks on the way.  And as he was drawing near, now to the descent of the mount of olives, all the multitude of disciples began rejoicing to praise God with a loud voice concerning all the mighty works which they had seen, saying, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord, in heaven peace, and glory in the highest."   And some of the pharisees of the crowd said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples."  He answered and said to them, "I say to you, if they will hold their peace, the stones will cry out."