This Sunday, the lectionary invites churches to reflect on John 15:9-17. As I said in my column last week, most bibles group verses 1-17 together, with the heading “I am the True Vine.” Every Sunday we look upon a huge cross in our meeting place. Yet, we miss the horror lurking in verse 9, which …
“Blood” … the red liquid that circulates in our bodies and spills out crimson red when we cut ourselves. “Bloody” …. the adjective of blood. It also happens to be my most favourite punctuation and exclamation, much to the chagrin of my sister. (I can almost hear her – “will you stop using that word!”). …
This Sunday, the lectionary invites Christian communities to read John 15:1-8. Most Bibles, including the English Standard Version which we use in Bangsar Lutheran Church, group verses 1-17 together and give them the heading “I Am the True Vine.” Last Sunday we were invited to reflect on Jesus as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-18) – …
The single, most important sentence I ever heard Read More »
This Sunday, the lectionary invites us to ponder John 10:11-18. The English Standard Version translation supplies the passage with the title “I am the Good Shepherd.” The word “shepherd” is used often in the Bible. It’s used for God, for leaders, rulers, pastors. In the passage, John tells us that division followed after Jesus explained …
Recently, education minister Fadhlina Sidek drew flak from the Mufti of Perlis when she said she had restricted the use of the word “kafir” by her children. The Mufti criticized her, saying she shouldn’t limit the use of a word used by Allah in the Koran (link). According to a report in FMT, Fadhlina clarified …
This Sunday, the lectionary invites us to ponder Luke 24:36b-48. The English Standard Version supplies the passage with the title “Jesus Appears to His Disciples.” It also supplies headings to the preceding passages in the chapter. The headings are “The Resurrection” and “On the Road to Emmaus.” In my column “The fish, the water, and …
Why did Jesus eat the fish? Are there toilets in heaven? Read More »
In recent weeks, Malaysia has been embroiled in a controversy surrounding socks printed with the word “Allah.” This seemingly innocuous product has sparked heated debates, protests, and even acts of violence. As tensions rise, it is crucial for non-Muslims to approach this issue with sensitivity and understanding. Let us delve into the complexities and implications …
Understanding the “Allah Socks” issue in Malaysia: A call for compassion and awareness Read More »
This Sunday the lectionary invites us to ponder verses 12-31 from chapter 20 of the gospel of John. The English Standard version splits the passage into three parts and supplies the headings: (1) Jesus Appears to the Disciples; (2) Jesus and Thomas; and (3) The Purpose of this Book. We learn that after Jesus was …
This Sunday we’ll celebrate Easter, the day the disciples discovered Jesus had been raised from the dead. The lectionary invites us to ponder Mark 16:1-8. The English Standard Version supplies the passage with the title “The Resurrection.” It tells us: Two nights passed after Jesus had died and was placed in a tomb. On Sunday, …
This Sunday the lectionary invites us to consider John 12:20-43. The English Standard Version breaks the text into three portions and supplies them with the headings: “Some Greeks Seek Jesus,”[1] “The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up,”[2] and “The Unbelief of the People”[3]. The first portion tells of some Greeks[4] who’d come to Jerusalem …
