advent – Page 10 – 300 words a day

Setting down appearances.

Some of you know that I don’t like Christmas. I went through a phase of detesting it, but I’m mostly up to simply not liking it. When I unpack it, the problem is expectations. When I was a kid, we had a family tradition of Christmas Eve photos. My dad’s camera had a timer, so […]

by Jon Swanson

Feeding the crowd of Twelve.

Mark 6 We couldn’t talk about eating with Jesus (our Advent theme) without the story known as “the feeding of the 5000.” But did you know that it could just as easily be called, “the feeding of the Twelve?” All that food, enough to feed 15,000 people with 12 baskets left over, is part of […]

by Jon Swanson

Parties.

In the comments on yesterday’s post, Lenore said “What was there about Jesus that inspired Matthew and friends to want to eat with him?” I searched for the phrase “with sinners.” Which took me to Luke 15. It’s a chapter I’ve read often, with three parables I’ve taught about. But I never traced the food through […]

by Jon Swanson

Daily. Bread.

“Our Father, who art in heaven” It’s the start of a really famous prayer. It’s full of grand things: hallowedness. trespassing. kingdoms. glory. They are the kind of images that fit well with the majestic songs of Christmas. Buried in the middle of the prayer is a simple daily request. “Give us this day our […]

by Jon Swanson

Second Sunday of Advent: Peace

(Luke 10:38-42) They ate in Bethany that day, Jesus and the disciples. I am sure of it. They all ate a meal prepared by Martha. Perhaps it was the best meal she ever fixed. Certainly it was the most peace-filled meal. You may know the first part of the story. Jesus and the disciples come […]