Category: Scripture Reflections

This is a reflection I wrote after praying the scripture John 14:23–29. If you would like to read the scripture, you can find here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A23%E2%80%9329&version=NRSVUE

You may notice some differences between the scripture and the reflection. Praying scripture is an invitation to be inspired by the scripture and see where it takes you. If you would like to know more about praying scripture you can email me at lleffler@live.ca .

“Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”

God knows I try to follow Jesus and keep is word, but I have made so many mistakes in the past. I denied knowing him – not once but three times. I was among the disciples when we doubted Jesus could feed all the people gathered and when we tried to keep the children from approaching Jesus – tried to keep them in what we thought was their proper place. And how could I ever forget the time I sank into the lake because I lost faith in Jesus’s ability to walk on water – the other disciples certainly won’t let me forget it. “Hey Peter, why don’t you go for a walk – you could use a bath!” “Hey Peter, does Jesus call you the rock because you sink like a stone?” Like I need them reminding me of my doubts. I have enough of those on my own. I have made so many mistakes in the past – misinterpreted what Jesus wanted so many times and now he is telling us that he is no longer going to be here in person to guide me back.

I am NOT ready for this!

How could Jesus leave me? I still have so much to learn! He tells us, “Do not let your hearts be troubled” but how can they not be? I dropped everything and dedicated my whole life to following Jesus. How can I continue to do that if he is not there to follow? How am I supposed to know what is the Holy Spirit guiding me and what are my own thoughts and desires? What if I get it so wrong that I become one of those people who “do not keep [Jesus’s] words?

Okay, I am spiraling. I need to relax. Jesus must know what he is doing. If he believes I am ready to go out on my own I can do this…I can do this. I just need to learn to listen to the Spirit guiding me from within…

This is a reflection I wrote after praying the scripture Luke 19:1-10. If you would like to read the scripture about Zacchaeus, you can find here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+19%3A1-10&version=NRSVA

You may notice some differences between the scripture and the reflection. Praying scripture is an invitation to be inspired by the scripture and see where it takes you. If you would like to know more about praying scripture you can email me at lleffler@live.ca .

I don’t know if I should be here. No one in town seems to like me very much. Well really, who would like the tax collector?

But what else was I supposed to do. I am too small to work in the fields and I don’t have any skills. I wasn’t born into wealth so I can’t just be some rich landowner telling everyone what else what to do.

If I take a little bit extra now and then, it is only so future generations of my family won’t face the same struggle. What’s the big deal? Everybody does it!

But this man, this Jesus guy, I have to hear him – have to see him. I hear his work is life changing… and my life needs changing.

I am sick of being invisible in this town. The only time anyone looks at me is when I am working – and then it is only with looks of disgust. I just want to be seen… to be known! Maybe this Jesus guy can help me with that.

But how will I see him over this crowd? No one is going to let me through to the front – even though they could see over me (I guess I’m not the only one who is selfish!)

I know! I will climb this tree!

There he is! I see him coming. I can see so much from up here. He’s coming this way! He is stopping. Something big is about to happen.

“Zacchaeus, come down immediately! I must stay in your house today.”

Zacchaeus? That’s me! He’s talking to me! He sees me!

This is a reflection I wrote after praying the scripture Luke 22:54-62. If you would like to read the scripture about Peter denying Jesus, you can find here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22%3A54-62&version=NRSV

You may notice some differences between the scripture and the reflection. Praying scripture is an invitation to be inspired by the scripture and see where it takes you. If you would like to know more about praying scripture you can email me at lleffler@live.ca .

It is cold and dark, and I am so tired. I can never seem to keep warm when I’m tired.
What am I even doing here?
This is all so crazy!
Jesus was arrested!
Arrested!

I tried to help in him escape. I tried to fight for him. I even cut off someone’s ear in the struggle.
The thought of it still makes me queasy … that ear … just laying on the ground … all bloody…

No! Don’t think about that!

Oh, God! What am I doing here?

I am so tired …so cold …
Maybe if I could just get warm, I could think.

What are they saying?
Is that person talking to me?

“You were with him!”

What? Me?

“No, I was not!”

Why did I say that? Jesus is my friend, my inspiration. I came here to help him, but I just can’t deal with all these people. I have to get out of this crowd.

“Were you not with Jesus?”

“No, I was not!”

Oh, God! They recognize me. I have to get out of here. I don’t want to say the wrong thing.

I think Jesus wanted to be arrested. He told me to stand down.

What am I supposed to do now?

Maybe if I could just find him …see him …I would know what to do.

If I could just get out of this crowd.

“You were with him!”

“No, I was not!”

If I tell them who I am I will never get out of here – never be able to figure out what to do. They will ask me questions I cannot answer.

Oh, God, what am I doing here?!

There he is! I can see Jesus through the crowd! I can see him! I know him…

“Before the cock crows you will deny me three times.”

He knew this would happen! He knew what I would do! But the question is …

What am I supposed to do now?

This is a reflection I wrote after praying the scripture John 8:1-11. If you are not familiar with the story about the woman saved from stoning, I would suggest reading first. You can find here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8%3A1-11&version=NRSV. You will notice some differences between the scripture and the reflection. Praying scripture is an invitation to be inspired by the scripture and see where it takes you. If you would like to know more about praying scripture you can email me at lleffler@live.ca .

I look through the crowd at each face searching for someone to save me – to help me.
I cannot escape this mob on my own. 
Some of the faces are angry.
What fills them with so much rage?
Others look like they just got swept up in the crowd.
I face each one of them in turn, silently pleading for help,
but each of them turn away.
Some of them at least have the decency to look ashamed of their inaction.

This is it.
No one is coming…

And then suddenly there is movement at the back of the crowd.
They are parting to let someone through.
Is it my lover coming to speak in my defense?
No, he will not come for me now…
…what good would it do?

The man reaches the front of the crowd.
I don’t recognize him but somehow, I feel like I know him.
He has a divine aura surrounding him.
This must be the Messiah everyone is talking about.
This must be Jesus.

Surely, he will save me from this mob.
Surely, he will speak out on behalf of love.

But he just stands there
and slowly bends to pick up a long stick at our feet.
He moves, slowly, deliberately,
drawing something on the ground.

I don’t see, how this will save me.
I don’t understand why he is not saying anything to the crowd.

He just keeps drawing.

But then I look up at the crowd once more
and I notice a change settling over them.
Before they were loud, angry, irrational,
but now they are stilling,
and a quiet curiosity settles over the crowd.
Whatever this man says now they will be able to listen.

Surely, he will speak out in my defense.
Surely, he will explain it is not a crime to love someone
when there is consent from everyone directly impacted.

He draws one last line,
I feel a circle of protection around me.
I know the crowd will not be able to harm me today.

And then finally he speaks,
“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

The crowd is silent.
Nobody moves
and then slowly one by one they walk away.

I am relieved but also a little disappointed…

This man could have spoke out in my defense.
He could have shown them their judgement was unfounded.
He could have spoken on behalf of women,
and made a significant change.
Why didn’t he say more?

Perhaps, the time wasn’t right?
Perhaps, they weren’t ready to listen?

But as I sit here,
still bound in place by the relief of my salvation,
I can’t help but wonder…
…will they ever be ready?

All I know is I am ready…
As I take my first shaky step out of my circle of protection,
I know one thing with absolute certainty…
I WILL NO LONGER KEEP SILENT!

This is a reflection I wrote after praying the scripture Matthew 27:45-51 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27%3A45-51&version=NRSV). It is a conversation between Jesus and God while he is on the cross.

The pain is lessening…I am starting to go numb.
The end is coming…
              …soon.

“My God, my God why have you forsaken me?”

I did everything you asked.
I travelled and taught.
I worked so hard to open their hearts to you.

Why was this necessary?
Why couldn’t we make them listen?

You can’t do it for them.
They have to open their own hearts.

Then what was the point?
Was it all for nothing?

What was the point?
You touched so many lives!
Opened so many hearts and minds to my spirit!

Yeah, and a fat lot of good that did!
I am still here on the cross.

Of course, it did good!
More good than you will ever know.
Just because you can’t see it now, doesn’t mean you didn’t make a difference!

But why does it have to end in hurt?

This isn’t the end…
…it is only the beginning…