First Sunday in Lent (Year 4, NL)

Maybe Jesus’ tears at Bethany come from more than grief.

God called all of them good. Humans are rapidly destroying them.

Growing up, I never heard a word about God laughing, joking, or doing anything for fun.

Jesus acts in response to real human suffering and actual human tears.

What does it mean that Jesus weeps, when he knows Lazarus will be raised from the dead?

We embrace uninitiated visitors, rowdy children, and blue jeans. Why not tears?

I've experienced Pentecost as sweet, serious, or neither.

Romans 8:6–11; John 11:1–45

My state has the same number of churches as prisoners. This fact haunts me.

After the anointing at Bethany, Judas asks why the fragrance wasn't sold and the money given to charity. A more apt question might be why Mary didn't use it on her brother Lazarus, dead just a few days before.