Contemplative Bible Reading

Luke 11:4 (Christian Standard Bible) And forgive us our sins,for we ourselves also forgive everyonein debt to us.And do not bring us into temptation. This English translation of the Lord’s Prayer equates sin with debt. Sometimes I struggle with understanding sin. Sure, this is wrong and this is right. Sin, however, is a deep subject […]

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Luke 1:8-9 (New Living Translation) 8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. This was a big event. Zechariah was in the […]

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Luke 5:20 (New Living Translation) 20 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” This is part of the (hi)story of the crippled man and his friends. We heard this one many times in Sunday School as kids. The men carried their crippled friend on a stretcher to Jesus […]

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Luke 7:2 (New Living Translation) 2 At that time the highly valued slave of a Roman officer was sick and near death. Jesus healed the slave of a Roman officer. Jesus then praised the faith of this non-Jew and contrasted it to the lack of faith of so many Jews. Uh, wait, this was a […]

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Luke 2:6-7 (New Living Translation) 6 And while they (Mary and Joseph) were there, the time came for her (Mary’s) baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son (Jesus). She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. […]

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Luke 22:2 (New Living Translation) 2 The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the people’s reaction. Those in positions of religious authority were figuring. What would they do? First, these are good people in difficult positions. They put their lives at stake for […]

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Luke 22:63-64 (New Living Translation) 63 The guards in charge of Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and said, “Prophesy to us! Who hit you that time?” This is part of the (hi)story of the crucifixion of Jesus. This incident of mocking Jesus tells us much about prophets and prophesying and […]

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Luke 10:21 (New Living Translation) 21 At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased […]

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Luke 8:1-3 (New Living Translation) 1 Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, 2 along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, […]

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Luke 1:80 (New Living Translation) John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel. John (the Baptist) was born the son of a Priest of the tribe of Levi. His father was a Priest. John was to be a Priest. We find […]

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