The name "Legion" has a double meaning. Literally, it means, "Many, thousands, multitudes." But it also alludes to the occupying Roman soldier legions which numbered 3,000 to 6,000 each. Many Israelites felt the Roman legions were another form of demonic occupation. Continue reading

Just as the host is thinking to himself, 'Doesn't Jesus know what sort of person this woman is?' Jesus tells a story to make plain that he does indeed know what sort of woman she is, and more than that, knows what sort of person his host is as well. Ouch. Continue reading

I'm left wondering how often I prefer being dead to being obedient. I wonder how many times, Jesus' command to, "Rise," has fallen on deaf ears? Continue reading

It is crucial for our understanding of the Good News to recognize that "Good News" is not just a proclamation. It is also a response. It requires not only a Jesus, but also a centurion to be realized. And the centurion is both the model and the challenge for you and me. Continue reading

Holy Textures is my attempt to provide a spot for my musings on the various Biblical texts that come our way through the Revised Common Lectionary. My goal is to provide timely, short, easy to use and faith-provoking background commentary for your sermon or bible study preparation. Please click on the heading of any post or "Continue reading" to see the full post. By entering your email and clicking "Subscribe," you can receive all new posts by email. You will only receive new posts, nothing else - no spam, nada, zip. Lots of fabulous texts from Luke in Year C. May your preaching be a source of life for you - and subsequently also for your people - in this Season of Pentecost. Year C - Season of Pentecost - 2013 Pentecost Sunday May 19, 2013 Acts 2:1-21 "We might all hear the same words - each in our own language - but we will not all hear and understand exactly the same meaning. The problem with life, and faith, and following Jesus is always: What does this mean?" Sermon: "All We Need Is Love." John 14:8-17, (25-27) "Those who are bonded into Jesus will know a Truthful Spirit who will (Verse 26): 'Teach you everything; and remind you of all that I have said to you.' We, who like Philip, have been with Jesus all this time, and still do not know him, should receive this promise with great... Continue reading

We need to hear this brief section from Chapter 16, not as Jesus giving a lecture on the doctrine of the Trinity, but as a personally intense commitment of abiding, continuing, present love / loyalty / protection / guidance / bonding with his followers then - and now - and always. Continue reading

Those who are bonded into Jesus will know a Truthful Spirit who will (Verse 26): 'Teach you everything; and remind you of all that I have said to you.' We, who like Philip, have been with Jesus all this time, and still do not know him, should receive this promise with great joy and thanksgiving at Jesus' generosity. We will not be left alone. Continue reading

We might all hear the same words - each in our own language - but we will not all hear and understand exactly the same meaning. The problem with life, and faith, and following Jesus is always: What does this mean? Continue reading

This fully devoted relationship is what John means by 'love.' It is by abiding in this love, and being completely one that outsiders may truly know that indeed Jesus was sent by the Father. Continue reading

There are probably at least 3 ways to misunderstand John. One is to treat each of: following, loving, and abiding; as if they were separate and distinct pieces. These things are all of a whole; you cannot selectively choose only one part: 'I'll have the love of Jesus please, but hold the keeping the commandments.' Continue reading

There are at least two challenges in Jesus' commandment, 'Love one another as I have loved you.' One is to deeply and correctly discern how Jesus loves. And the other is to let the 'you' be 'me' - 'I love you as Jesus loves me.' Continue reading

The challenge for most mainline Christians is not following Jesus. We've been taught pretty well about that. The challenge for us is recognizing Jesus' voice. Continue reading

What I see in this encounter is that Jesus twice offers Peter the opportunity to again over promise as he did at the last supper (I will NEVER deny you). And so, when Jesus asks Peter for the third time, "Do you love me?" Jesus uses "philios." In effect, accepting Peter's offer of friendship. Continue reading

Holy Textures is a spot for my musings on the various Biblical texts that come our way through the Revised Common Lectionary. My goal is to provide timely, short, easy to use and thought-provoking background commentary for your sermon or bible study preparation. Please click on the heading of any post or "Continue reading" to see the full post. By entering your email and clicking "Subscribe," you can receive all new posts by email. You will only receive new posts, nothing else - no spam, nada, zip. Year C - Season of Easter - 2013 As usual with the Season of Easter, we get to spend time with the Gospel of John. I like to think of John as like a good day at the spa: Soaking in the swirling eddies and quiet back pools of his repetitive, non-sequitor, images and stories. John wants us to really GET the life that is Jesus. What could be more refreshing than that? Easter Vigil March 30, 2013 Luke 24:1-12 "This lesson contains no resurrection. But this lesson also contains trusting the amazing void." Sermon: "." Easter Day March 31, 2013 John 20:1-18, Alternate Reading A "As the Word descended from the Father and became flesh at the start of John's Gospel, Mary is experiencing the reverse process - of the flesh becoming Word." Sermon: "The Rising." Luke 24:1-12, Alternate Reading B "This lesson contains no resurrection. But this lesson also contains trusting... Continue reading

My Apologies The last post, "Welcome to Holy Textures - Season of Easter," was a draft from an old copy that I had not completely updated. My apologies. I am working on the updates today. You will receive the correct post tomorrow. My Off-Line Life One of my other pre-occupations is trying to understand the changes in Canadian society that are having dramatic impacts on volunteer, membership-based organizations of all types - including religious organizations, also of all types. I normally keep that separate from Holy Textures, but thought some of you who subscribe to Holy Textures might be interested in the results of some of that work - a YouTube video of a PowerPoint presentation, "Reading the Year Book," which you can see here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usppl9KoxJI. The run time is 25 minutes. I've also added links to the actual PPT on my blog, www.davidewart.ca where you can download the PPT and the Handout of my narration. I'll be away on vacation, April 11 to May 11, but I will have arranged for weekly posts to be sent out automatically. Let's hope that works as I will not have convenient access to the internet if anythings goes astray. Blessings to you all in this Season of Easter, David Ewart, www.holytextures.com Continue reading

Holy Textures is a spot for my musings on the various Biblical texts that come our way through the Revised Common Lectionary. My goal is to provide timely, short, easy to use and thought-provoking background commentary for your sermon or bible study preparation. Please click on the heading of any post or "Continue reading" to see the full post. By entering your email and clicking "Subscribe," you can receive all new posts by email. You will only receive new posts, nothing else - no spam, nada, zip. Year C - Season of Easter - 2013 As usual with the Season of Easter, we get to spend time with the Gospel of John. I like to think of John as like a good day at the spa: Soaking in the swirling eddies and quiet back pools of his repetitive, non-sequitor, images and stories. John wants us to really GET the life that is Jesus. What could be more refreshing than that? Easter Vigil March 30, 2013 Luke 24:1-12 "This lesson contains no resurrection. But this lesson also contains trusting the amazing void." Sermon: "." Easter Day March 31, 2013 John 20:1-18, Alternate Reading A "As the Word descended from the Father and became flesh at the start of John's Gospel, Mary is experiencing the reverse process - of the flesh becoming Word." Sermon: "The Rising." Luke 24:1-12, Alternate Reading B "This lesson contains no resurrection. But this lesson also contains trusting... Continue reading

I've created a PowerPoint presentation which I hope will help us to understand why efforts at congregational re-vitalization may not have had the hoped for, long term results. Continue reading

John doesn't care what we see with our eyeballs. He wants us to SEE with our inner eye who Jesus really is. That is why he has written these signs for us. That in SEEing, we might believe; and in believing, we might have the life that is in Jesus. Continue reading

To outsiders, a battered and broken Jesus could no longer hold his head up and died in humiliation and defeat. But to those who believe into him, a true Son of God has completed his great work, and with a royal nod (and maybe a mischievous wink?) has passed on his Spirit so that we too might have life - the life that was in Jesus. Continue reading

This lesson contains no resurrection. But this lesson also contains trusting the amazing void. Continue reading

As the Word descended from the Father and became flesh at the start of John's Gospel, Mary is experiencing the reverse process - of the flesh becoming Word. Continue reading

Brutal execution by stripping naked, whipping, and nailing to a cross was carefully crafted by the Romans to inflict the maximum amount of pain and degradation because they wanted to kill not only the individual but also any followers. That is to say, by demonstrating their iron-fisted authority over Jesus, the Romans hoped to kill any aspirations in any of his followers to "take up their cross and follow." Continue reading

What the authors of the Bible take for granted and fail to mention is that while Jesus is parading in on a colt through one of the back gates, on the other side of the city Pilate is parading in on a war horse accompanied by a squadron or two of battle hardened Roman soldiers. Continue reading

The Uniform Church? Not so much. I believe one of the challenges facing our church is that while we may be United we are most definitely not Uniform. We all know that each congregation and Pastoral Charge has its own unique history and context. But because we function as a national church, and only set policy nationally, it means that we expect all Pastoral Charges to be uniform in their ability to function. This expectation in terms of statements of faith, worship practices, and social outreach encourages the lively conversation that makes us United. But this expectation in terms of personnel policies – salaries, allowances and benefits; and organizational issues – board structures, leadership, etc. – can be a real burden and stumbling block for many congregations and PC’s because we are not Uniform. In 2011: 1 Point PC’s were 70% of the total number of PC’s 2 Point PC’s were 21% 3 Point PC’s were 7%, and 4 or more Point PC’s were 2% But as the following chart shows, for almost every Year Book line, 1 Point Pastoral Charges have a greater share of our people and financial resources. But this is just the tip of the ice berg, because when we look at the differences within 1 Point Pastoral Charges, we find that there is a large difference between those with the highest worship attendance and those with the lowest. In fact, the 10% (154 congregations) with... Continue reading

In this passage, John has Mary portray the shocking intimacy of loyalty, trust, and bonding with Jesus that over-rides cultural norms; and contrasts that with the disloyalty and dishonesty of Judas. Continue reading