CURRENT EVENT – MAY 27, 2012

Justin Deeg finished the Boston Marathon in 3:00.16, good for 537th overall, and was able to share the experience with his fiancée, Corrine Klebe. Both will graduate May 25 from the Mayo School of Health Sciences with degrees in physical therapy.

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR – MAY 27, 2012

I can totally understand the disciples not fully getting what Jesus is telling them in John 14. We are fortunate to read the passage this side of the resurrection, so it makes more sense to us. And yet, there are mysteries about the nature of God’s existence and how we will join with it after death that even we do not fully comprehend, so it’s no wonder the disciples have the wrong idea when Jesus tells them that he’s going somewhere.

REFERENCE SHELF – MAY 27, 2012

Jesus assumes the disciples know the way to the Father’s house…. Thomas, however, puts the twofold question: “Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” (v. 5).

DEVOTIONAL – MAY 27, 2012

Have you ever watched someone trying to enter a “members only” establishment without the credentials necessary to be admitted? It’s a fascinating game. The person may claim to know someone inside, to be a member of the band, or may even offer a bribe.

CURRENT EVENT – MAY 20, 2012

Facebook now allows people to share their organ donor status. It’s a wonderful way to bring the donor community together and to raise awareness about organ donation overall.

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR – MAY 20, 2012

Martha’s confession to Jesus at the end of our passage is powerful: “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world” (Jn 11:27). She should be applauded, since not many people at the time had reached that realization.

REFERENCE SHELF – MAY 20, 2012

In accordance with custom, mourners have come to console the sisters (v. 19). That the mourners were “many” testifies to the family’s wealth (cf. 12:1-5).

DEVOTIONAL – MAY 20, 2012

Martha loved Jesus and she believed in him, but she did not yet understand his power. Ann Pooser, a member of the Sunday school class I taught, often reminded us of our own lack of understanding of Jesus’ power.

CURRENT EVENT – MAY 13, 2012

On April 19, 18-year-old shepherd Yasir Najadah was shot in the chest by Israeli soldiers taking part in military training exercises.

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR – MAY 13, 2012

A running theme in the Gospels is that people don’t fully understand who Jesus is and what he came to do. This holds true for random crowds of people and also his closest disciples. Such lack of understanding is what prompted his statements in our passage this week from John 10.

REFERENCE SHELF – MAY 13, 2012

In this passage, Stage One (vv. 7-10) is a meditation on the figure of vv. 1-5 by means of a double explanation of “door” (v. 1), with “thief” (v. 1) also present in vv. 8 and 10.

DEVOTIONAL – MAY 13, 2012

Being compared to sheep is not always flattering. I’ve heard they are not the most intelligent of animals, and I once saw a sheep fall over when it was half-sheared–it didn’t even try to adjust and stay on its feet!