In this story, Mary’s action fills the entire house with a sweet smelling fragrance. And Jesus is pleased. Meanwhile, another person at the table is exuding a different aroma—a foul smell stinking up the dinner party. Jesus is not happy. Let’s begin the season of Lent by pondering the aroma our lives are giving off, and where to apply spiritual deodorant if necessary. … More A Sweet Aroma For Lent
The Fifth Sunday in Lent reminds us of the necessity of enduring hardships for growth and maturity, both spiritually and in all aspects of life. Just as a diamond forms under pressure, Jesus’ suffering leads to glorification. We are called to embrace present challenges for future joy, allowing God to shape us into immortal diamonds through adversity. … More Crushed Bones into Spiritual Diamonds
Our tour bus pulled into the parking lot and joined other groups from around the world. Were we souls on pilgrimage or shoppers on holiday? We were at the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized and we could be too – if we could find our way through the gift shops, concession stands, and observation decks to the river below. … More Tour Buses in the Jordan Wilderness
This year Ash Wednesday felt even darker than other years. A service that ends with ashes smeared on your forehead with the words, “From the dust you came, and to dust you shall return,” is always a bit of a downer. But our mortality feels a bit more real, perhaps, after a year that claimed … More Ashes & Oil
Jesus died how he lived: extending grace to others. What if we followed in his steps? … More Daily Spark: “Last Words: Forgive”
Insofar as this pandemic can help us kick bad habits and establish new and healthier lifestyle rhythms, we are experiencing what I want to call a “holy disruption.” … More Quarantine Letters: Holy Disruption
“Daily Sparks” are short video reflections by Jeremy to help you keep living in the light.
Jesus asked, “Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has … More Can You Drink the Cup?
Now that I’ve been writing at Daily Illumination for over a decade, its nice to have entire collections of writings for various seasons of the church year. If you’re looking for some inspiration this Holy Week, please consider my Lent/Easter collection of nearly 30 posts here. If you come across anything inspiring, or you want to … More Holy Week Collection
“Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession…Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.” -DIETRICH BONHOEFFER The creed of contemporary Christianity offers “A God without wrath [who] … More QUOTABLES: The Cross in Our Culture
A Christmas gift to myself this year was a collection of Sunday Sermons from the ancient Church Fathers. They are arranged according to the Church Calendar with about 5 or 6 sermons each Sunday for that week’s Gospel text from the likes of Chrysostom, Ambrose, Jerome and Augustine. This first Sunday in Lent I read … More Ancient Sermon on 40 Days of Lent
Covenant Pastor Eugene Cho has a potent reminder for Lent: We are now in the Lenten season and let me begin by sharing outright that Lent isn’t about you or about what you’re giving up. But we’ll get to that soon. For those that might not be familiar with Lent, it is the 40 day period (not … More What are you giving up for Lent? (Eugene Cho)
Jeremy L. Berg 