Author: trob

The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us [Acts 11:12a, NRSV]. There was an elephant in the living room, and it simply couldn’t be ignored. It had been some time since the authorities at First Church (Jerusalem) had heard from Peter. Everyone knew that he…

Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive….

Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up…

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails…

For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight [Isaiah 65:17-18]. Sorry to start…

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “if you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and…

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages….” [John 12:4-5]. As we move toward the Gospel reading for this upcoming Sunday, John 12:1-8 [the Fifth Sunday in Lent, RCL, Year C],…

Then the father said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.” [Luke 15:31-32]. Over the years, I have found that often…

Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down!…

And now, too, said the LORD, turn back to Me with all your heart, in fasting and weeping and mourning, and rend your heart, not your garments, and turn back to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in kindness and relenting over evil [Joel 2:12-13, THE…