This is the sixth in a series of weekly reflections through the season of Lent, written by Bobby Gross, who contributed the reflections for this past Advent Season. The first appeared on Ash Wednesday. You can browse the second, third, fourth, and fifth reflections by following the links. Palm Sunday ushered us into this Holy Week. The account of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, as told in Luke 19 (this year's lectionary gospel reading), thrums with political dynamics. With some combination of canny anticipation … [Read more...] about Lenten Reflections: Examining our Allegiance
Lenten Reflections: Resisting Racism
This is the fifth in a series of weekly reflections through the season of Lent, written by Bobby Gross, who contributed the reflections for this past Advent Season. The first appeared on Ash Wednesday. You can browse the second reflection here, third reflection here, and the fourth reflection here. Racism has haunted my whole life. It is like a chronic disease acquired in early childhood, sometimes debilitating, sometimes only hobbling, always painful. Even with the latest in medical treatment, I can never fully … [Read more...] about Lenten Reflections: Resisting Racism
Lenten Reflections: Guarding Against Pride
This is the fourth in a series of weekly reflections through the season of Lent, written by Bobby Gross, who contributed the reflections for this past Advent Season. The first appeared on Ash Wednesday. You can browse the second reflection here and the third reflection here. We all know that pride is a problem. It blinds us. It inflates us. It goes before a fall. But we've also bought into certain positive versions of pride: to feel good about who we are and what we do. We raise our kids to have self-esteem … [Read more...] about Lenten Reflections: Guarding Against Pride
Lenten Reflections: Grappling with Greed
This is the third in a series of weekly reflections through the season of Lent, written by Bobby Gross, who contributed the reflections for this past Advent Season. The first appeared on Ash Wednesday. You can browse the second reflection here. When the devil put it in Jesus's mind to “command” God to turn desert stones into round loaves to satisfy his ravening hunger, he did not bite on the devil's subversive insinuation (If you are really the Beloved Son’) nor cave to his body's craving at the expense of … [Read more...] about Lenten Reflections: Grappling with Greed
Lenten Reflections: Temptation
This is the second in a series of weekly reflections through the season of Lent, written by Bobby Gross, who contributed the reflections for this past Advent Season. The first appeared on Ash Wednesday. We are all subject to temptation. The slippery tendency to think selfishly or perversely. The quick impulse to speak hurtfully or deceptively. The ready inclination to act unkindly if not unjustly. The craven or just plain apathetic inertia that leaves the right things undone. The instinctive choice to privilege … [Read more...] about Lenten Reflections: Temptation