Is not this the fast I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of a yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? — Isaiah 58:6. Isaiah’s fast puts my traditional Lenten Fast to shame. Isaiah’s fast exposes the superficiality of my giving up oatmeal raisin cookies every Lent.…
Winning
The confetti has settled, the roar of the crowd has faded, and the Eagles have hoisted the Super Bowl trophy. We celebrate their victory, a clear win defined by the final score. This resonates with our understanding of winning, ingrained from childhood games to adult competitions: a quantifiable measure, often points, time, or distance, declaring…
Special Relationship
He asked them, “But who do you say that I am.” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” — Mark 8:29. “But who do you say that I am?” Jesus asked. Peter, after walking alongside him, sharing meals, witnessing miracles, and listening to his teachings, didn’t just recite what others said. He spoke from the heart:…
How Many Do We Have
Christ’s question “How many loaves do we have?” (Mark 8:5a) seems simple, almost a throw-away lead-in before the miraculous feeding of the five thousand. However, within its brevity lies lessons in resourcefulness, faith, and problem-solving. It’s easy to gloss over his question and jump straight to the miracle, but today let’s reflect on why Jesus’…
Out of Abundance
This morning, I read about our government’s decision to cut foreign aid to numerous countries, including allies and nations grappling with poverty and famine. While The Hubbell Pew doesn’t typically engage in political commentary, I can’t help but express the emotional impact this news had on me. This situation brought to mind the biblical story…