As we talk about Pentecost Sunday - the day the Church remembers the sending of the Holy Spirit in the aftermath of Christ's Resurrection - we couldn't help but notice how this beautiful vision of the community of God speaks now prophetically to us now. How can we be the sort of community that honors and respects the "fire from heaven" that rests on others?  What is being affirmed that the Holy Spirit allows us to hear the good news in the diversity of our own languages? And how does the Spirit's generosity encourage us to speak boldly to the church that is often seen as a place of preservation of institutional hierarchy?

This was a super fun conversation, as we talk about what this detailed (and somewhat convoluted) narrative describing Jesus' raising of Lazarus teaches us about life. In his incredible conversation with Martha, we are reminded that resurrection is much more than what happens to us after we die--rather it is the power of Jesus to transform how we live now. Then, in his incredible conversation with Mary, we remember that in our darkest moments and emotions, Jesus welcomes us and weeps along with us. 

We enter into the season of Lent -- a time of preparation for the celebration of Easter -- with a reflection on Jesus' preparation in the wilderness, as he overcame the three temptations of the devil. Sandy and Jin talk about how this informs our understanding of our desires, provides a better theology of evil, the certainty/uncertainty of faith, AND the great temptation that we in the church have all too often fallen for. This is our longest episode, but wow, the time flew by!

The lectionary readings that are assigned for this week were Matthew 4:1-11; Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7; Psalm 32; and Romans 5:12-19.