This week, spend time being present to what is happening in your own heart about racism in our country as you go about your daily life.

Parables are invitations for us to “play” with Scripture stories. Have a little fun. Create a parable of your own that tells a story about how you encounter the love of God.

Reading: Matthew 13:1-9 On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea.Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore.And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying:“A sower went out to sow.And as…

Reading: Matthew 11:25-30 At that time Jesus exclaimed:“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,for although you have hidden these thingsfrom the wise and the learnedyou have revealed them to little ones.Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.All things have been handed over to me by my Father.No one knows the…

Reading: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 (taken from “The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language” by Eugene H. Peterson) “After the scholars were gone, God’s angel showed up again in Joseph’s dream and commanded, ‘Get up. Take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt. Stay until further notice. Herod is on the hunt for this…

Reading: Matthew 1:18-24 (taken from “The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language” by Eugene H. Peterson) “The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn’t…

Reading: Matthew 11:2-11 (taken from “The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language” by Eugene H. Peterson “John, meanwhile, had been locked up in prison. When he got wind of what Jesus was doing, he sent his own disciples to ask, ‘Are you the One we’ve been expecting, or are we still waiting?’ Jesus told them,…

Reading: Matthew 3:1-12 (taken from “The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language” by Eugene H. Peterson) “While Jesus was living in the Galilean hills, John, called “the Baptizer,” was preaching in the desert country of Judea. His message was simple and austere, like his desert surroundings: ‘Change your life. God’s kingdom is here.’ John and…

Reading: Matthew 24:37-44 (taken from “The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language” by Eugene H. Peterson) “The arrival of the Son of Man will take place in times like Noah’s. Before the great flood everyone was carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ark.They knew nothing…

Reading: Mark 10:46-52 As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” And many rebuked him,…

Reading: Mark 10:35-45 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?” They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your…

Reading: Mark 10: 17-30 As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You shall…